Ben's Forum Replies
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 12th to the 18th of October, 2024.
1. Anatomia / Morbific (FALLEN, HORDE)
2. Crawling, The (FALLEN, HORDE)
3. Grajo (FALLEN)
4. High Parasite (FALLEN)
5. Lone Wanderer (FALLEN)
6. Lowen (FALLEN, INFINITE)
7. Subterraen (FALLEN, INFINITE)
8. Urza (FALLEN)
9. Brass Against (GATEWAY)
10. Enemy Inside (GATEWAY, GUARDIANS)
11. Rob Scallon (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
12. Trash Boat (GATEWAY)
13. Animal Drive (GUARDIANS)
14. Midnight Force (GUARDIANS)
15. Toledo Steel (GUARDIANS)
16. Tristan Harders' Twilight Theatre (GUARDIANS)
17. Abhorration (NOR) (HORDE)
18. Abominablood (HORDE, NORTH)
19. Aftermath, The (HORDE)
20. Bohemyst (HORDE, NORTH)
21. Cadaveric Fumes / Skelethal (HORDE)
22. Crematory Stench (HORDE)
23. Dystopia (NED) (HORDE, INFINITE, NORTH)
24. Feind (HORDE)
25. Goathammer (HORDE, NORTH)
26. Inisans (HORDE)
27. Monnier (HORDE)
28. Nosferatruxe (HORDE)
29. Svavelvinter (HORDE, NORTH)
30. Vermicular Incubation (HORDE)
31. Vulnificus (HORDE)
32. Doedsmaghird (INFINITE)
33. Evergarden (INFINITE, NORTH)
34. All My Sins (NORTH)
35. Embra (NORTH)
36. Eosphoros (NORTH)
37. Evil Warriors (NORTH)
38. Hellevaerder (NORTH)
39. Nelecc (NORTH)
40. Occelensbrigg (NORTH)
41. Sorrow Plagues / De la nostalgie / Elderwind / Dreams of Nature (NORTH)
42. ꙂꙨѮŮӜŮѮꙨꙂ (NORTH)
43. Hellfuck (PIT)
44. Earth Burial (REVOLUTION)
45. Geisterfahrer (REVOLUTION)
46. Nothin' but Enemies (REVOLUTION)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 4th to the 11th of October, 2024.
1. Cowardice (FALLEN)
2. Death Wheelers, The (FALLEN)
3. Lethean (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
4. Moloch (GBR) (FALLEN)
5. Scientist (FALLEN, INFINITE)
6. Stimulant / Water Torture (FALLEN)
7. Vodun (FALLEN)
8. Dream Child (GUARDIANS)
9. Elvellon (GUARDIANS)
10. Espionage (GUARDIANS)
11. Exanimis (GUARDIANS, HORDE)
12. Imperial Age (GUARDIANS)
13. Kalidia (GUARDIANS)
14. Nozomu Wakai's Destinia (GUARDIANS)
15. Phaëthon (GUARDIANS)
16. Whisper of Runes (GUARDIANS, NORTH)
17. Autumnfall (HORDE, NORTH)
18. Black Forest (AUT) (HORDE)
19. Carcinoma / Abyssal (HORDE, NORTH)
20. Carnifex (FIN) (HORDE)
21. Expurgo (HORDE)
22. Lago (HORDE)
23. MxMxM / Ziplock (HORDE)
24. Pissblood (HORDE)
25. Rawhead (HORDE)
26. Reduced (HORDE)
27. Reversed (HORDE)
28. Unbirth (HORDE)
29. Unravel (HORDE)
30. Bliss-Illusion (INFINITE, NORTH)
31. Maestrick (INFINITE)
32. PAKK (INFINITE)
33. Atra Vetosus (NORTH)
34. Bastardizer (NORTH, PIT)
35. Circle of Ouroborus / Cénotaphe (NORTH)
36. Dead Moon Temple (NORTH)
37. Himelvaruwe (NORTH)
38. Invocation Spells (NORTH)
39. Invunche (NORTH)
40. Nadir (NORTH)
41. Null (NORTH)
42. Voodus (NORTH)
43. Zhmach (NORTH)
44. Mindforce / Dead Heat (PIT)
45. Actor|Observer (REVOLUTION)
46. Burn Victim (REVOLUTION)
47. Dead Soma (REVOLUTION)
48. Filth (REVOLUTION)
49. King Nine (REVOLUTION)
50. No Right (REVOLUTION)
51. Suntouch House (REVOLUTION)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 27th of September to the 3rd of October, 2024.
1. Aseethe (FALLEN)
2. Bright Curse (FALLEN)
3. Concilium (USA) (FALLEN)
4. Shishkin Les (FALLEN)
5. Still (FALLEN)
6. War Iron (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
7. Afterlife (FL-USA) (GATEWAY)
8. Deez Nuts (GATEWAY)
9. Kane Roberts (GATEWAY)
10. Swings & Han Yo Han (GATEWAY)
11. Alterium (GUARDIANS)
12. Battle Ruins (GUARDIANS)
13. Ice Sword (GUARDIANS)
14. Löded Diper (GUARDIANS)
15. Sign of the Jackal (GUARDIANS, PIT)
16. Asphalt Grieving (HORDE, NORTH)
17. Defleshed and Gutted (HORDE)
18. Dreamless Veil (HORDE, NORTH)
19. Grace Disgraced (HORDE)
20. HAR (HORDE, NORTH)
21. Impure Conception (HORDE)
22. iwantyoutofuckmywife (HORDE)
23. Murder Made God (HORDE)
24. Orthostat (HORDE)
25. Paleface Swiss (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
26. Rotted (HORDE)
27. Sanguinary Consummation (HORDE)
28. Starkweather / Concealment (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
29. Undergang / Gorephilia (HORDE)
30. Charlotte Wessels (INFINITE)
31. Elizabeth Colour Wheel (INFINITE)
32. Lice (INFINITE, NORTH)
33. Thrailkill (INFINITE)
34. Vestige (INFINITE)
35. Afraid of Destiny (NORTH)
36. Astral Lore (NORTH)
37. Frostveil (NORTH)
38. Grole (NORTH)
39. Isolert (NORTH)
40. Khaos Labyrinth (NORTH)
41. Terminal Nation / Neckbeard Deathcamp (NORTH, REVOLUTION)
42. Trench Warfare (NORTH)
43. Voyage in Solitude / Crescent Days / Falaise / An Ocean of Light / Sadness (NORTH)
44. Wormreich (NORTH) - requested by Vinny
45. Fatum (PIT)
46. Tyrus (PIT) - requested by Daniel
47. Killing of a Sacred Deer (REVOLUTION)
48. Lionheart (REVOLUTION)
49. Needle Under the Nail, A (REVOLUTION)
50. Vanguard (REVOLUTION)
October 2024
1. Dreamless Veil - Dim Golden Rave (from Every Limb of the Flood, 2024)
2. Necrowretch - Total Obilteration (from Swords of Dajjal, 2024) [Submitted by Vinny]
3. Samael - Rebellion (from Rebellion, 1995) [Submitted by Daniel]
4. Horna - Hymni I (from Nyx - Hymnejä yölle, 2024)
5. Firtan - Arkanum (from Ethos, 2024)
6. Satanic Warmaster - Bafomet (from Aamongandr, 2022) [Submitted by Karl]
7. Unanimated - Blackness of the Fallen Star (from In the Forest of the Dreaming Dead, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]
8. Winterfylleth - Upon This Shore (from The Imperious Horizon, 2024) [Submitted by Vinny]
9. Spite Extreme Wing - Acqua di fonte di gloria (from Magnificat, 2003) [Submitted by Karl]
10. Vafurlogi - Reikul vofa (from Í vökulli áþján, 2024)
11. Impaled Nazarene - Hate (from Ugra-Karma, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]
12. Marduk - Those of the Unlight (from Those of the Unlight, 1993) [Submitted by Karl]
13. Agrypnie - Aus rauchlosem Feuer (from erg, 2024)
14. Sorhin - Livets löfte (from Apokalypsens ängel, 2000) [Submitted by Karl]
15. Rotting Christ - The 4th Knight of Revelation (from Thy Mighty Contract, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]
16. Groza - Dysthymian Dreams (from Nadir, 2024)
17. Beherit - Lord of Shadows & Golden Wood (from Drawing Down The Moon, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]
18. Trelldom - Fra Mitt Gaml (from Til Minne…, 2007) [Submitted by Vinny]
19. Funeral Mist - Funeral Mist (from Devilry, 1998) [Submitted by Karl]
20. Ellende - Scherben Teil I (from Todbringerin, 2024)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 18th to the 26th of September, 2024.
1. Föhn (FALLEN)
2. Ivan (FALLEN)
3. Yaaroth (FALLEN)
4. Bodyweb (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
5. a crowd of rebellion (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
6. House of Protection (GATEWAY)
7. Kaizo Slumber (GATEWAY)
8. Amulet (GUARDIANS)
9. Cemican (GUARDIANS, HORDE, NORTH)
10. Grendel's Sÿster (GUARDIANS)
11. Lord Goblin (GUARDIANS)
12. Ar'lyxkq'wr (HORDE, INFINITE, NORTH)
13. Black Dust (HORDE)
14. Brain Tourniquet / Deliriant Nerve (HORDE)
15. Buried Realm (HORDE)
16. Deathbringer (HORDE, INFINITE)
17. Extermination Order (HORDE)
18. Human Instrumentality Project (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
19. Prion (HORDE)
20. Pyra (HORDE, NORTH)
21. Sanity Slip (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
22. Spectral Damnation (HORDE, NORTH)
23. Spewtum (HORDE)
24. Pillars (INFINITE)
25. Ploughshare (INFINITE, NORTH)
26. Sutekh Hexen / Sleepwalker (INFINITE, NORTH)
27. Celestial Annihilator (NORTH)
28. Délétère / Sarkrista (NORTH)
29. Diva Karr (NORTH)
30. Kval (NORTH)
31. Lander (NORTH)
32. Lhaäd (NORTH)
33. Nazghor (NORTH)
34. Night Shall Drape Us (NORTH)
35. Thyrathen (NORTH)
36. Vafurlogi (NORTH)
37. Warfist (NORTH, PIT)
38. Disembodied Tyrant (REVOLUTION)
39. Reality Denied (REVOLUTION)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 13th to the 17th of September, 2024.
1. Asthma Castle (FALLEN)
2. Idiot Child (FALLEN)
3. Morast (FALLEN)
4. Nightfucker (FALLEN)
5. Pesta (FALLEN)
6. SeeK (FALLEN, NORTH)
7. Void King (FALLEN)
8. Wind Walkers (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
9. Delalma (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
10. Spirits of Fire (GUARDIANS)
11. Vandor (GUARDIANS)
12. Aether (HORDE)
13. Alpdruck (HORDE, NORTH)
14. Breaking Wheel (HORDE)
15. Dissanity (HORDE)
16. Immanifest (HORDE)
17. Lwstndrds (HORDE)
18. Parasitic Ejaculation / Party Cannon / Gorevent / Bloodscribe (HORDE)
19. Plaguebringer (HORDE)
20. Posthumous Regurgitation (HORDE)
21. Raped by Pigs (HORDE)
22. Shock Withdrawal (HORDE)
23. Splattered (HORDE)
24. Tracriomy (HORDE)
25. Weak Flesh (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
26. Cartographs (INFINITE, NORTH)
27. Icare (INFINITE, NORTH)
28. Ancient Moon (NORTH)
29. Autumn Heart (NORTH)
30. Controlled Death (NORTH)
31. Eggs of Gomorrh / Sarinvomit (NORTH)
32. Evil / Vothana (NORTH)
33. Extirpation (NORTH, PIT)
34. Gherzen (NORTH)
35. Grave Circles (NORTH)
36. J'ai si froid... (NORTH)
37. Modern Rites (NORTH)
38. Mýrdal (NORTH)
39. Mysticism (NORTH)
40. Offenbarung (NORTH)
41. Örmagna (NORTH)
42. Penance Stare (NORTH)
43. Unkindness (NORTH)
44. Veiled (GER) (NORTH)
45. Witchgöat (NORTH)
46. Above, Below (REVOLUTION)
47. Many Eyes (REVOLUTION)
I like these ideas and will investigate adding them in the next batch of updates. I'm strapped for cash at the moment while the cost of living / interest rates are so high in Australia, so I'm afraid it won't happen quickly.
Hi Sonny. I experienced something similar with one of my lists a while back, but I don't know what the cause is. I plan to bring all the site's platforms up to the latest versions in the coming months and hope that might stop the issues. If not, I'll get my developer to look into it. I know it's a pain, but lists with under 200 entries seem to be much more stable than those above that mark.
One day I plan to redesign the lists altogether to make it easier to add / remove entries from long lists while still maintaining the order.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 6th to the 12th of September, 2024.
1. Lord Vicar / Funeral Circle (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
2. 7777 Angels (GATEWAY)
3. Takamachi Walk (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
4. Idol Throne (GUARDIANS, PIT)
5. Kings Cross (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
6. S.A.S. (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
7. Virgin Soldiers (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
8. Blasteroid (HORDE, PIT)
9. Cariosus (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
10. Carnal Savagery (HORDE)
11. Deformatory (HORDE)
12. Fields of Elysium (HORDE)
13. Mortify (JPN) (HORDE)
14. Neverus (HORDE)
15. Perveration (HORDE)
16. Purulence (HORDE)
17. Serpents Athirst / Genocide Shrines / Trepanation / Heresiarch (HORDE, NORTH)
18. Torturers' Lobby (HORDE, NORTH, PIT)
19. Unborn Salivate (HORDE)
20. Wasp Mother (HORDE)
21. Cosmic Jaguar (INFINITE, PIT)
22. Valis Ablaze (INFINITE)
23. Avmakt (NORTH)
24. Bejel (NORTH)
25. Black Forest (NORTH) - requested by Vinny
26. Crystayler (NORTH)
27. Dawn Treader (NORTH)
28. Goatkraft (NORTH)
29. Hænesy / Autumn Nostalgie (NORTH)
30. Hovmod (NORTH)
31. Kerasfóra (NORTH)
32. Lichen (NORTH)
33. Malva Silvestre (NORTH)
34. Maquahuitl / Ifernach (NORTH)
35. Nocturnal Sorcery (NORTH)
36. Thormesis (NORTH)
37. Tormentador (NORTH)
38. Triumph, Genus (NORTH)
39. Wormwitch / Sadistic Ritual (NORTH, PIT)
40. Cavalerie (PIT)
41. Excuse (PIT)
42. Missouri Executive Order 44 (REVOLUTION)
43. Starve (REVOLUTION)
Let's see, first four Metallica albums, Sepultura with Schizophrenia through Arise, Drudkh from Autumn Auroa through Blood in Our Wells.
Ulcerate are still on a golden run on their last four albums.
Maiden for me would also match Ben's opinion and I would also go with that Opeth run too.
I would throw in Judas Priest from Sad Wings of Destiny through Stained Class.
I considered that Sepultura run. I need to revisit Schizophrenia.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 30th of August to the 5th of September, 2024.
1. 0N0 (FALLEN, INFINITE, SPHERE)
2. Acid Magus (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
3. Andvaka (FALLEN)
4. Anguish (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
5. Black Magician (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
6. Blackout (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
7. Cardinals Folly / Church of Void / Acolytes of Moros (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
8. Church of Void (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
9. Cloud Rat / The World Is a Vampire (FALLEN)
10. Fordomth (FALLEN, NORTH)
11. Mireplaner (FALLEN, INFINITE)
12. Rowsdower (FALLEN)
13. Space Witch (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
14. Sporae Autem Yuggoth (FALLEN)
15. Sun of the Dying (FALLEN)
16. Superlynx (FALLEN)
17. Un / Coltsblood (FALLEN)
18. Phoxjaw (GATEWAY)
19. Attick Demons (GUARDIANS) - requested by Karl
20. Galaxy (GUARDIANS, PIT)
21. Light Force (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
22. Lucifer's Hammer (GUARDIANS)
23. Nebula Orionis (GUARDIANS, INFINITE, NORTH)
24. Simone Simons (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
25. Carnal (NZL) (HORDE)
26. Cenotafio (HORDE, NORTH)
27. Chiens (HORDE)
28. Dawn of Disease (HORDE)
29. Deprecation (HORDE)
30. Evilyn (HORDE)
31. Horrisonous (HORDE)
32. Kruelty / Moment of Truth (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
33. Necroripper (HORDE, PIT)
34. Necrotic Infibulation (HORDE)
35. Relics of Humanity (HORDE)
36. Spurn (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
37. Vitriol (GER) (HORDE)
38. Andy Gillion (INFINITE)
39. Horizon's End (INFINITE)
40. Knight Area (INFINITE)
41. Maïeutiste (INFINITE, NORTH)
42. Omnific, The (INFINITE)
43. Pangaea (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
44. Rototypical (INFINITE)
45. Darkenhöld & Griffon (NORTH)
46. Drave (NORTH)
47. Eskapism (NORTH)
48. Glistening (NORTH)
49. Jordslået (NORTH)
50. Kestrel (NORTH)
51. Mòr (NORTH)
52. Pale / 濃霧 [Nhomme] / 冬蟲夏草 [Tochu-Kaso] / 明日の叙景 [Asunojokei] (NORTH)
53. Sachiel / Sugar Wounds (NORTH)
54. Thorybos (NORTH)
55. Umbra Conscientia (NORTH)
56. Witchtrial (NORTH)
57. Znous (NORTH, REVOLUTION)
58. Burning Wind, The (REVOLUTION)
59. Paramount, a Love Supreme, A (REVOLUTION)
60. Point of Contact (REVOLUTION)
61. Staining the Twilight Black (REVOLUTION)
62. Strangled (REVOLUTION)
I think Maiden's Powerslave, Somewhere in Time, Seventh Son and Metallica's Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, And Justice for All runs are my favourite
Death's Human, Individual Thought Patterns, Symbolic, Morbid Angel's Altars of Madness, Blessed Are the Sick, Covenant, Domination, Opeth's Still Life, Blackwater Park, Deliverance and Slayer's Reign in Blood, South of Heaven, Seasons in the Abyss runs are also incredible.
I'm sure there's something I'm missing, but these are the ones that immediately come to mind.
September 2024
1. Pestilential Shadows - Devil's Hammer (from Devil's Hammer, 2024) [Submitted by Karl]
2. Spectral Wound - Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal (from Songs of Blood and Mire, 2024)
3. Impaled Nazarene - I Al Purg Vompo: My Blessing (The Beginning Of The End) (from Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz…, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]
4. Schammasch - They Have Found Their Master (from They Have Found Their Master, 2024)
5. Ljå - Til Satan (from Til avsky for livet, 2006) [Submitted by Karl]
6. Aetheria Conscientia - The Blossoming (from The Blossoming, 2024) [Submitted by Daniel]
7. Korgonthurus - Syyttäjäenkeli (from Kuolleestasyntynyt, 2020) [Submitted by Vinny]
8. Oranssi Pazuzu - Valotus (from Valotus, 2024)
9. Véhémence - L'étrange clairière (from Par le sang versé, 2019) [Submitted by Karl]
10. Mystifier - An Elizabethan Devil Worshipper's Prayer Book (from Göetia, 1993)
11. Havohej - Fucking of Sacred Assholes (from Dethrone the Son of God, 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]
12. In Aphelion - A Winter Moon's Gleam (from Reaperdawn, 2024)
13. Hulder - Hearken the End (from Verses in Oath, 2024) [Submitted by Vinny]
14. Wraithfyre - Ablaze in Abyssal Frosts (from Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms, 2024)
15. Absu - Infinite & Profane Thrones (from Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L., 1993) [Submitted by Daniel]
16. Ymir - Silvery Howling (from Ymir, 2020) [Submitted by Vinny]
17. Paysage d'Hiver - Urgrund (from Urgrund, 2024)
18. Blut aus Nord - Elevation (from Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue With The Stars, 2009) [Submitted by Daniel]
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 22nd to the 29th of August, 2024.
1. Eye of Nix (FALLEN, INFINITE, NORTH)
2. Necroplanet (FALLEN)
3. Atena (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
4. Falling in Reverse (GATEWAY)
5. Tom Morello (GATEWAY)
6. Wildways (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
7. Jeris Johnson (GUARDIANS, REVOLUTION) - requested by Andi
8. Okrütnik (GUARDIANS, NORTH, PIT)
9. Ara (USA) (HORDE)
10. Berzerker Legion (HORDE)
11. Dysylumn (HORDE, NORTH)
12. Eye Eater (HORDE)
13. Gimli, Son of Glóin (HORDE)
14. Gore Infamous (HORDE)
15. Kombat (HORDE)
16. Theresia (HORDE, NORTH, REVOLUTION)
17. Video Nasties (HORDE, NORTH)
18. Gelassenheit (INFINITE, NORTH)
19. Hexenschuss (INFINITE, NORTH)
20. Transit Method (INFINITE)
21. Allelic (NORTH)
22. Ars Veneficium (NORTH)
23. Behrosth (NORTH)
24. Burden of Ymir (NORTH)
25. Daius (NORTH)
26. Drakum (NORTH)
27. Duivel (NORTH)
28. Kyrios (NORTH)
29. Omnikinetic (NORTH)
30. Phantom Spire (NORTH)
31. Schattenfall (NORTH)
32. Taake / Deathcult (NORTH)
33. White Nights (NORTH)
34. Wraithfyre (NORTH)
35. Zifir (NORTH)
36. Your Spirit Dies (REVOLUTION)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 17th to the 21st of August, 2024.
1. Apostle of Solitude / Rituals of the Oak / The Flight of Sleipnir (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
2. Dirt Woman (FALLEN)
3. Evaporated Sores (FALLEN)
4. Las Historias (FALLEN)
5. The Ritualist (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
6. Vøid (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
7. Weight of Emptiness (FALLEN, HORDE)
8. Yarrow (FALLEN)
9. Zetra (FALLEN)
10. Saint Agnes (GATEWAY)
11. Volturian (GATEWAY)
12. Category 7 (GUARDIANS, PIT)
13. Jacob’s Well (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
14. Trilogy (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
15. Vice (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
16. Witchtower (GUARDIANS)
17. Amnio / Shenk / Astral Decay (HORDE)
18. Bleeding Out (HORDE)
19. Clot (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
20. Desolator (SWE) (HORDE)
21. Engutturalment Cephaloslamectomy (HORDE)
22. Failed Treatment (HORDE)
23. Ghost Dances (HORDE)
24. Perpetual Gestation (HORDE)
25. Rat King (HORDE)
26. Toxaemia (HORDE)
27. Traumatomy / Coprocephalic Mutation / .357 Homicide / PeelingFlesh (HORDE)
28. VampireCunt (HORDE)
29. Visions of Disfigurement (HORDE)
30. Folian (INFINITE)
31. GENA (INFINITE)
32. O (INFINITE, NORTH)
33. Precaria / Ôros Kaù (INFINITE, NORTH)
34. Bejel / Acwelan (NORTH)
35. Blackevil (NORTH, PIT)
36. Burier (NORTH)
37. Death Racer (NORTH, PIT)
38. Drought (NORTH)
39. Enepsigos (NORTH)
40. Hecate (NORTH)
41. Kūka’ilimoku / Ebony Pendant (NORTH)
42. Mitochondrial Sun (NORTH)
43. Moorgeist (NORTH)
44. Ofermod / Αχέροντας [Acherontas] / Black Altar (NORTH)
45. Old Nick / Hex Clock (NORTH)
46. Omitir (NORTH)
47. Sivyj Yar / Stworz (NORTH)
48. Starcave (NORTH)
49. Utzalu (NORTH)
50. Violent Hammer (NORTH)
51. Acidez (PIT)
52. Depression (PIT) - requested by Daniel
53. Shrapnel (PIT, REVOLUTION)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 9th to the 16th of August, 2024.
1. Begotten (USA) (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
2. Blizaro (FALLEN, GUARDIANS) - requested by Sonny
3. Church of Lies (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
4. Condenados (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
5. Crone (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
6. Dea Marica (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
7. Demon Lung (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
8. Doomocracy (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
9. Doomster Reich (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
10. Electric Priestess (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
11. Fed Ash (FALLEN, HORDE)
12. Flesh Megalith (FALLEN)
13. Goya (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
14. Herxheim (FALLEN, HORDE, NORTH)
15. Hymn (FALLEN)
16. Kroh (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
17. Lux Incerta (FALLEN)
18. Moeror (FALLEN, NORTH)
19. Of Spire & Throne (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
20. Old Witch (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
21. Othuum (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
22. Postvorta (FALLEN, INFINITE)
23. Prophets of Saturn (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
24. Spirit Descent (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
25. Spirit Division (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
26. Spook the Horses (FALLEN, INFINITE)
27. Subterranean Disposition (FALLEN, INFINITE)
28. Talisman Stone (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
29. Twin Sister (FALLEN, INFINITE)
30. Walk Through Fire (FALLEN, INFINITE)
31. Wren (FALLEN, INFINITE)
32. Dimphonic (GATEWAY)
33. Smackbound (GATEWAY)
34. Assemble the Chariots (GUARDIANS, REVOLUTION)
35. Axatak (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
36. Black Jack (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
37. Fair Warning (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
38. Nemedian Chronicles (GUARDIANS)
39. Surrender (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
40. Tyrant (AUS) (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
41. Angerot (HORDE)
42. Brain Corrosion / Ripped to Shreds (HORDE)
43. Fatuous Rump (HORDE)
44. Gardenjia (HORDE, INFINITE, NORTH)
45. Hateful (HORDE)
46. Hereisaropegoodluck (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
47. Infesticide (HORDE)
48. Monument of Misanthropy (HORDE)
49. Rectal Smegma / Cliteater / Last Days of Humanity (HORDE)
50. Sanguinary Verdict (HORDE)
51. Slaughterday (HORDE)
52. Stoned God (HORDE, INFINITE, PIT)
53. Zmey Gorynich (HORDE, NORTH, REVOLUTION)
54. (0) (INFINITE)
55. Agabas (INFINITE)
56. Convulsif (INFINITE)
57. Arkhtinn / Starless Domain (NORTH)
58. Drengskapur (NORTH)
59. Eerified Catacomb (NORTH)
60. Goats of Doom (NORTH)
61. Gryftigæn (NORTH)
62. In Cauda Venenum (NORTH)
63. Lluvia / Ehecatl (NORTH)
64. Mørketida (NORTH)
65. Moulin Banal (NORTH)
66. N0THANKY0U (NORTH)
67. Sinistral King (NORTH)
68. Summer Haze '99 (NORTH)
69. Three Eyes of the Void (NORTH)
70. Vazio (NORTH)
71. Vspolokh (NORTH)
72. Aphrodite (PIT)
73. Ends of Sanity (REVOLUTION)
74. God Awful Truth, The (REVOLUTION)
75. Nekonomicon (REVOLUTION)
76. Power Alone (REVOLUTION)
Hi Ben. I have been cataloguing my physical collection recently and have noticed a few omissions. Could you add the following bands please (sorry there's so many at once):
Begotten (NY, USA)
Blizaro (USA)
Church of Lies (UK)
Condenados (Chile)
Crone (Australia)
Dea Marica (UK)
Demon Lung (USA)
Doomster Reich (Poland)
Electric Priestess (UK)
Goya (USA),
Kroh (UK)
Of Spire & Throne (UK)
Old Witch (Canada)
Othuum (Germany)
Prophets of Saturn (UK)
Spirit Descent (Germany)
Spirit Division(USA)
Talisman Stone (unknown)
Your wish is my command. All done!
Does anyone still look at these posts? It's just another bit of admin I have to do, so I guess it would be good to know whether anyone would miss them.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 2nd to the 8th of August, 2024.
1. 1782 / Acid Mammoth (FALLEN)
2. The Bottle Doom Lazy Band (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny
3. Habak (FALLEN, INFINITE)
4. IAH (FALLEN, INFINITE)
5. Ovtrenoir (FALLEN, INFINITE)
6. Pothamus (FALLEN, INFINITE)
7. Red Moon Architect (FALLEN)
8. Tomorrow's Rain (FALLEN)
9. Void Witch (FALLEN)
10. City of Souls (GATEWAY)
11. Psalm Zero (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
12. Alogia (GUARDIANS)
13. Mai Yajima (GUARDIANS)
14. Ahtme (HORDE)
15. Angel Morgue (HORDE)
16. Ayakasi Kagura (HORDE)
17. Burned in Effigy (HORDE)
18. Burning Palace (HORDE)
19. Burst Synapse (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
20. Civerous / Stygian Obsession (HORDE)
21. Desecation (HORDE)
22. Eternal (HORDE)
23. Garden Angel (HORDE)
24. Heresiarch / Antediluvian (HORDE, NORTH)
25. Make Them Die Slowly (HORDE, NORTH, REVOLUTION)
26. Miséricorde (HORDE, NORTH)
27. Repugnancy (HORDE)
28. Scarred (HORDE, INFINITE, PIT)
29. Strangulation (HORDE)
30. Sulk (HORDE)
31. Urosepsis (HORDE)
32. Vile Horrendous Aerial Bombardment (HORDE)
33. Barrens (INFINITE)
34. Bird Problems (INFINITE)
35. Le temps du loup (INFINITE)
36. Nordsind (INFINITE, NORTH)
37. Occulta Veritas (INFINITE, NORTH)
38. Complot! / Primitive Warfare (NORTH)
39. Drouth (NORTH)
40. Erancnoir (NORTH)
41. Fadheit (NORTH)
42. Grizzly Fetish / Reek of the Unzen Gas Fumes / Scatmother / 苦虫 [Nigamushi] (NORTH)
43. Grundhyrde (NORTH)
44. Hand of Glory (NORTH)
45. Invunche / Ifernach (NORTH)
46. Lure (NORTH)
47. Membaris (NORTH)
48. Nox Formulae (NORTH)
49. Shaidar Logoth (NORTH)
50. Trhä / Coffret de Bijoux (NORTH)
51. Vrörsaath (NORTH)
52. 14th Generation Toilet Hanako-san (PIT)
53. Rain of Salvation (REVOLUTION)
It was an error. Thanks for the pickup Andi!
I'm very interested in this album after including a track in the playlist. Will definitely be checking it out.
August 2024
1. Seth - Et que vive le diable (from La France des maudits, 2024) [Submitted by Karl]
2. Vananidr - The Watcher (from Beneath the Mold, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]
3. Aura Noir - Conqueror (from Black Thrash Attack, 1996) [Submitted by Daniel]
4. Sear Bliss - The Winding Path (from Heavenly Down, 2024) [Submitted by Xephyr]
5. Gaerea - Hope Shatters (from Hope Shatters, 2024)
6. Samael - After the Sepulture (from Blood Ritual, 1992) [Submitted by Daniel]
7. Whoredom Rife - Den vrede makt (from Den vrede makt, 2024) [Submitted by Karl]
8. Gorgoroth - På slagmark langt mot nord (from Destroyer, 1998) [Submitted by Karl]
9. Sig:Ar:Tyr - Awaiting the Last Dawn (from Citadel of Stars, 2024)
10. Hail Spirit Noir - The Temple of Curved Space (from Fossil Gardens, 2024)
11. Keep of Kalessin - Through Times of War (from Through Times of War, 1997) [Submitted by Karl]
12. Krallice - Fatestorm Sanctuary (from Inorganic Rites, 2024)
13. Yoth Iria - The Great Hunter (from As the Flame Withers, 2021) [Submitted by Xephyr]
14. Cradle of Filth - To Eve the Art of Witchcraft (from The Principles of Evil Made Flesh, 1994) [Submitted by Daniel]
15. Diocletian - Barbaric Hunt (Feral Prey) (from Inexorable Nexus, 2024)
16. Kvaen - De Dodas Sang (from The Formless Fires, 2024) [Submitted by Xephyr]
17. Nattefrost - Primitive Death (from Terrorist: Nekronaut Pt. 1, 2005) [Submitted by Vinny]
18. Inherits the Void - The Orchard of Grief (from Scars of Yesteryears, 2024)
19. Enslaved - Heimdallr (from Ygdrasill, 1992) [Submitted by Daniel]
20. Dark Funeral - Shadows Over Transylvania (Re-Recording 2024) (from Shadows Over Transylvania (Re-Recording 2024), 2024)
That would be because Ben has the release date pegged at 30th July 1984.
Ben, any particular reason for that?
No idea. One of the very first albums I added. Just corrected now.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 12th to the 25th of July, 2024.
1. :NODFYR: (FALLEN, NORTH)
2. Nomadic Rituals (FALLEN)
3. Opera Diabolicus (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)
4. Ankor (GATEWAY) - requested by Andi
5. Banks Arcade (GATEWAY)
6. Berried Alive (GATEWAY, INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
7. Boris Sex Dwarf (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
8. Dime (GATEWAY)
9. Solence (GATEWAY)
10. Windwaker (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
11. Coronary (GUARDIANS)
12. Starscape (GUARDIANS)
13. Bloodrust (HORDE)
14. Celestial Swarm (HORDE)
15. Congealed Putrescence (HORDE)
16. Diskord / Atvm (HORDE, INFINITE)
17. Haiduk (HORDE, PIT) - requested by Storm_Lord
18. Hand of Kalliach (HORDE)
19. Infestment (HORDE)
20. Octoploid (HORDE, INFINITE)
21. Osiris (EGY) (HORDE, NORTH)
22. Polemicist (HORDE, NORTH)
23. Sněť / Sequestrum (HORDE)
24. The Revolutionary Vanguard Gorenoise Ensemble (HORDE)
25. Unflesh (HORDE)
26. Acrylazea (INFINITE)
27. Isgherurd Morth (INFINITE, NORTH)
28. Kwade Droes (INFINITE, NORTH)
29. Malconfort (INFINITE)
30. Noble Déchet (INFINITE, NORTH)
31. Outlander (INFINITE)
32. Vuur & Zijde (INFINITE)
33. And Now the Owls Are Smiling (NORTH)
34. As the Shadows Envelop Me (NORTH)
35. Awenden / Feminazgul (NORTH)
36. Beleriand (NORTH)
37. Devilgroth (NORTH)
38. Eisenwinter / Vothana (NORTH)
39. Endezzma (NORTH)
40. Evoking Winds (NORTH)
41. Hån (NORTH)
42. Moisson Livide (NORTH)
43. Pagan Forest (NORTH)
44. Sår (NORTH)
45. Sol Draconi Septem (NORTH)
46. Spear of Teuta (NORTH)
47. Udånde (NORTH)
48. Vampirska / Glemt (NORTH)
49. Vampirska / Wampyric Rites (NORTH)
50. Vorágine / An Ocean of Light / Last Man's Breath / The Depressick / Urantia / Sadness (NORTH)
51. Winter Eternal (NORTH)
52. Witch Club Satan (NORTH)
53. Depths of Hatred (REVOLUTION)
54. Divine Right (REVOLUTION)
55. Onewaymirror (REVOLUTION)
56. Our Hollow, Our Home (REVOLUTION)
57. The Voynich Code (REVOLUTION)
That depends if you’d rather take the opinions of four randoms from a website that has repeatedly proven its inadequacies in this department over your own brother’s informed position which generally reflects your own & comes from almost four decades of experience, doesn’t it? It also depends on whether you care for Xmas presents or not.
Added...as Non-Metal.
Ben, please add Vatreni poljubac's 1980 third album "To je ono pravo" under the Heavy Metal (Conventional) subgenre.
Should it not be added as Non-Metal and then voted on, given you're the only person that has voted it as Heavy Metal on RYM?
Feel free to tell me which albums you feel deserve a place and why. I understand that you think there should be around 12. What are they, and which artists followed in their wake? If it’s Liturgy or Oranssi Pazuzu, then I’m genuinely interested in other artists that have followed their lead. Learn me.
Here's the 27 I've got so far...
MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK METAL RELEASES
1987 Bathory - Under the Sign of the Black Mark (BLACK)
1990 Blasphemy - Fallen Angel of Doom.... (WAR)
1992 Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky (BLACK)
1993 Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane (MELODIC)
1993 Rotting Christ - Thy Mighty Contract (MELODIC)
1994 Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger (BLACK)
1994 Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi (BLACK)
1994 Mayhem - De mysteriis dom Sathanas (BLACK)
1994 Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse (SYMPHONIC)
1995 Summoning - Minas Morgul (ATMOSPHERIC)
1995 Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler (ATMOSPHERIC)
1995 Immortal - Battles in the North (BLACK)
1996 Burzum - Filosofem (ATMOSPHERIC)
1996 Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace (SYMPHONIC)
1997 Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (SYMPHONIC)
1999 Agalloch - Pale Folklore (ATMOSPHERIC)
1999 Paysage d'Hiver - Paysage d'Hiver (ATMOSPHERIC)
1999 Windir - Arntor (MELODIC)
1999 Conqueror - War Cult Supremacy (WAR)
2001 Silencer - Death - Pierce Me (DEPRESSIVE)
2002 Xasthur - Nocturnal Poisoning (DEPRESSIVE)
2003 Leviathan - The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide (DEPRESSIVE)
2007 Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters (ATMOSPHERIC)
2010 Deathspell Omega - Paracletus (BLACK)
2010 Alcest - Écailles de lune (BLACKGAZE)
2013 Deafheaven - Sunbather (BLACKGAZE)
2015 Batushka - Litourgiya (BLACK)
I think it's a pretty decent list. Releases I'm not 100% sold on are (in order of uncertainty)
2015 Batushka - Litourgiya (BLACK) - I'm comfortable removing Batushka, as I'm not sure it's influenced that many bands.
1999 Conqueror - War Cult Supremacy (WAR) - Are Conqueror really doing anything that Blasphemy didn't do a decade earlier?
2003 Leviathan - The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide (DEPRESSIVE) - I don't feel we need both Xasthur and Leviathan, and since I see Xasthur as having more of the sound that represents depressive black metal, I'd be happy with that.
1994 Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi (BLACK) - Enslaved were certainly different, but just how much did this album influence others? Not sure!
If I remove all of them though, I'd need to add 2 more releases.
Thoughts? Anyone?
I see no reason why there should be 12 influential conventional black metal releases as some sort of minimum. In fact I think that actually goes against what I would expect for the list. I would expect it would be bands that branched out and did something other than conventional black metal, and influenced others to come along for the ride in the process, that should go in above popular black metal releases that didn't do anything particularly new.
If you feel any of the other conventional black metal albums deserve a spot, please let me know why.
I currently have 27 releases that I've shortlisted, so rather than discuss any individual subgenres any further, let's throw that list together and you can tell me if you feel like anything should replace anything else.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 5th to the 11th of July, 2024.
1. Autolith (FALLEN)
2. Batholith (FALLEN)
3. Corr Mhóna (FALLEN)
4. Demande à la Poussière (FALLEN)
5. Kadabra (FALLEN)
6. Thermohaline (FALLEN)
7. Vendel (FALLEN)
8. Aliene Ma'riage (GATEWAY) - requested by Pelle
9. Audiopsicotica (GATEWAY) - requested by Pelle
10. Bilmuri (GATEWAY)
11. Kerbdog (GATEWAY) - requested by Pelle
12. LeFT (GATEWAY) - requested by Pelle
13. Merva (GATEWAY) - requested by Pelle
14. Purity (GATEWAY)
15. Sumo Cyco (GATEWAY)
16. Aurelian (GUARDIANS)
17. Blacksword (GUARDIANS)
18. Hands of Goro (GUARDIANS)
19. Knight & Gallow (GUARDIANS)
20. Mean Mistreater (GUARDIANS)
21. Smut (GUARDIANS) - requested by Pelle
22. Beyond Grace (HORDE)
23. Deception (HORDE)
24. Gerogot (HORDE)
25. Headshrinker (HORDE)
26. Hysterorrhexis (HORDE)
27. Manifesting Obscenity (HORDE)
28. Martial Barrage (HORDE)
29. Miasmic (HORDE)
30. Michel Anoia (HORDE)
31. Sallow Moth (HORDE)
32. Snuffed on Sight / Corpse Pile (HORDE)
33. Yakisoba (HORDE)
34. No Oath (INFINITE)
35. Arazubak (NORTH)
36. Assassination (NORTH)
37. Cepheide (NORTH)
38. Cold Cell (NORTH)
39. Concilium (NORTH)
40. Curta'n Wall & Fugitive Wizard (NORTH)
41. Doedsvangr (NORTH)
42. Fosso (NORTH)
43. Genune (NORTH)
44. Impious Throne (NORTH)
45. Miasmata (NORTH)
46. Order (NORTH)
47. Stone, The (NORTH)
48. Killing (PIT)
I've spent the last week or so pondering how to handle the last remaining genre, being the top level Black Metal genre itself. I think this is by far the hardest to lock down, so Daniel and I had a lengthy phone call to produce the below shortlist. I think we agreed on most of them, with only a few included or excluded where our opinions differed. Let's start with some definites...
Bathory - Under the Sign of the Black Mark (1987)
Yes, Bathory technically launched the black metal genre with 1984's debut album, but it was Under the Sign of the Black Mark that really influenced the upcoming Norwegian movement. Blood Fire Death was obviously also in our discussion, but for pure influence and origin, it has to be Under the Sign.
Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992)
It goes without saying that A Blaze in the Northern Sky has to be on the list. While the band hadn't 100% let go of their death metal roots, their primitive ferocity, icy cold riffs, demonic vocals and all-round aesthetic took black metal to darker, more extreme territory.
Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger (1994)
While it would be nice to only include one album per artist in this list, I feel Darkthrone has to be the exception. While it may have been tempting to include multiple albums for important artists such as Bathory and Burzum, only Darkthrone demand it due to their two hugely important albums influencing completely separate aspects of black metal. Transilvanian Hunger is responsible for the intentionally lo-fi production values and the relentless yet hypnotic sound that so many bands would pick up on from the moment it was released.
Mayhem - De mysteriis dom Sathanas (1994)
It's incredible that recording for this album began in 1992. While I'm not going to state that Mayhem's masterpiece is the epitome of what true black metal is, I do think that De mysteriis dom Sathanas, with its strong production, complex song structures and impressive musicianship, paved the way for black metal being arguably the most popular metal genre today.
With those 4 albums out of the way, let's dive into some of the other releases that are at least worth discussing for the list. It would be great to get some opinions on any of these albums (or any others for that matter), so please let us know!
Sarcófago - I.N.R.I. (1987)
Arriving in the same year as Bathory's Under the Sign of the Black Mark, these Brazilian's brought high intensity thrashing madness out of South America. While this debut isn't a clear cut example of black metal, the techniques are definitely there, and both Fenris and Euronymous were very much influenced by it. You could argue that these guys were the ones to bring additional ferocity to the genre.
Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi (1994)
It's not clear to me exactly how influential early Enslaved was, but what I do know is that it didn't sound like anyone else in the scene at the time. The band brought an epic aspect that, along with the Viking themes, could very well have led to the huge number of Viking-fused atmospheric black metal bands that exist today. The fact that the average track running time exceeds 10 minutes also fits the mould. My gut tells me Enslaved may have been a stepping stone rather than being influential enough for a list like this, but they're in the ballpark for sure.
Immortal - Battles in the North (1995)
This may come as a surprise, but bare with me. Pure Holocaust and At the Heart of Winter are undoubtedly more loved albums than this one, but that's not what this list is about. The fact is that Battles in the North brought unprecedented extremity to the genre. I recall laughing at how outrageously fast it all was back in the day, and yet there are countless bands that have gone down the same path since.
Satyricon - Nemesis Divina (1996)
Nemesis Divina is one of those releases that you could argue didn't bring anything new to the table, but it came at a time when black metal was making the transition from underground blasphemy to crowd-pleasing accessibility. It sits right in the middle, containing a fair portion of ferocity and complexity, while remaining for the most part quite accessible. Part of this is no doubt due to an increase in production that bands like Emperor and Satyricon were gaining access to, but whatever the reason, Nemesis Divina took off, and undoubtedly influenced other artists through sheer weight of popularity.
Blut aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God (2003)
I (incorrectly) included this in my atmospheric black metal shortlist, but this is where it belongs. I personally feel that it's no coincidence that fellow countrymen Deathspell Omega's eventual sound (the one they're known for now) arrived on the scene a year after The Work Which Transforms God unleashed it's otherworldly warped dissonance onto unsuspecting listeners. I guess the question we have to ask is whether other bands were influenced by this release, or whether all the innumerable clones simply point back to Deathspell Omega. I feel it's likely the latter, but I wanted to include them for discussion nonetheless.
Deathspell Omega - Paracletus (2010)
I don't think it would have been incorrect to include this release in the definites list at the top of this post. That's how much of an influence I feel this band's sound has had on black metal overall. The only decision is which album to include. I think you could argue that Fas – Ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum was the band's first album to really nail down the sound, but the monumental popularity of Paracletus can't be ignored.
Mgła - Exercises in Futility (2015)
Daniel and I disagree on the inclusion of this release. While I would never argue that Mgła aren't a great band, and their popularity speaks for itself, I'm personally not convinced that they've brought anything new to black metal. I guess I included Satyricon for helping to bring in an increased accessibility to the genre while staying true to it's foundations, so I can see the argument for Mgła to be included on the same grounds. Anyone have an opinion on this one?
Batushka - Litourgiya (2015)
Bastushka sounded really fresh when this album dropped. They weren't the first to introduce chanting to black metal, but they were certainly the first to dive all in on it. The result was an atmosphere we hadn't really experienced before, and when you added in the mystery surrounding the the band members, this Polish band became a bit of a phenomenon. While I don't know of any bands that have gone down the exact path, I'm continually hearing aspects of Batushka's sound in other releases. Certainly enough to include them on this shortlist, but I'm not certain there's enough to warrant the final 25. Thoughts?
Liturgy - H.A.Q.Q. (2019)
I’ll admit that I’m not really into this sort of thing, so I’ll need some assistance / persuasion when deciding whether it deserves a place on the final list. One thing I do know is that Liturgy are hugely popular, and from the releases I’ve heard, brought an avant-garde madness to the genre that was otherwise missing. Speaking of avant-garde, Daniel and I discussed bands like Ved Buens Ende, Solefald, Dodheimsgard and Fleurety, but felt they either didn’t influence enough bands or weren’t quite black metal enough to warrant inclusion. Liturgy probably ticks both boxes, although perhaps it's too soon to truly call them influential?
Oranssi Pazuzu - Mestarin kynsi (2020)
This one’s all Daniel. I’ve never heard it, but he tells me it’s fantastic, and brings a psychedelic aspect to black metal that feels fresh and interesting. I can’t argue with its rating and popularity on RYM, but I wouldn’t personally know whether it has been influential or not. It’s only been out for 4 years, so it shouldn’t be difficult to pinpoint releases that came out from its shadow. Have you found that to be the case Daniel?
I'm putting forward the below list, but welcome anyone's opinion...
Bathory - Under the Sign of the Black Mark (1987)
Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992)
Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger (1994)
Mayhem - De mysteriis dom Sathanas (1994)
Deathspell Omega - Paracletus (2010)
Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi (1994)
Immortal - Battles in the North (1995)
Batushka - Litourgiya (2015)
Thanks for the feedback Daniel / Xephyr.
I agree that The Work Which Transforms God is better to discuss under Black Metal rather than Atmospheric Black Metal, so that's off the list.
While it hurts me to do it, I think I also agree that Filosofem can't be excluded, so that's the Burzum album of choice for the list.
All of us agree that Ulver and Paysage d'Hiver need to be there, which is great.
I'm going to settle on the below list for now. I really don't know which of these releases will end up in the final 25, but I do feel the first three are locked in.
Burzum - Filosofem (1996)
Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler (1995)
Paysage d'Hiver - Paysage d'Hiver (1999)
Summoning - Minas Morgul (1995)
Agalloch - Pale Folklore (1999)
Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters (2007)
I also get frustrated by the need to further sub-categorise metal genres, but I think in this instance it's a valid one. The influence that Deathspell Omega have had on black metal can't be overstated. There are many (admittedly) lesser known bands that are attempting to utilise a similar sound. I reviewed one here at Metal Academy not long back actually...
https://metal.academy/releases/23898
Bekor Qilish, Kvadrat and Skaphe are other bands that come to mind that are very obviously bringing Deathspell-like dissonance into their music. I do feel there's something quite distinct about the sound that was introduced by Blut Aus Nord's The Work Which Transforms God and Deathspell Omega's mid-2000s releases. They don't have traditional black metal riffs at all.
For anyone interested, I think these are good examples...
https://open.spotify.com/track/2eDaorhzqRSmuYdPFW7Jnu?si=728c5b45a7584f69
https://open.spotify.com/track/5FSASFBCaKkBYhH6iYq4kN?si=9f51be8b321a4f29
https://open.spotify.com/track/377pFq2o7qSZSU9wAo8oiI?si=635093e767b540a0
I'm all for Dissonant Black Metal. Let's give RYM a few months to sort itself out and then we'll implement it here.
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 29th of June to the 4th of July, 2024.
1. Coffin Lurker (FALLEN)
2. Cross Vault (FALLEN)
3. Fōr (FALLEN)
4. Gold Spire (FALLEN, INFINITE)
5. Melvins / Boris (FALLEN)
6. Mesa (FALLEN, INFINITE)
7. Nadja / Disrotted (FALLEN)
8. Taxi Caveman (FALLEN)
9. Gridiron / Despize (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)
10. No Terror in the Bang (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
11. Acero Letal (GUARDIANS, PIT)
12. Vatreni poljubac (GUARDIANS) - requested by Daniel
13. Abscession (HORDE)
14. Astral Decay (HORDE)
15. Bitter Loss (HORDE)
16. Cercenatory (HORDE)
17. Deconsecration / Re-Buried (HORDE)
18. Frog Mallet (HORDE)
19. Gore Dimension (HORDE)
20. Human Failure (HORDE)
21. Stench Collector (HORDE)
22. Thanatotherion (HORDE, NORTH)
23. Thy Darkened Shade / Amestigon / Inconcessus Lux Lucis / Shaarimoth (HORDE, NORTH)
24. Vomit Spell (HORDE)
25. AVRALIZE (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)
26. Mütterlein (INFINITE)
27. Vástígr (INFINITE, NORTH)
28. Alghol (NORTH)
29. Hanternoz (NORTH)
30. Jours Pâles (NORTH)
31. Kankar (NORTH)
32. Kasturn (NORTH)
33. Romuvos (NORTH)
34. Solitvdo (NORTH)
35. Syning (NORTH)
36. Zaratus (NORTH)
37. Zørza (NORTH)
38. Evilcult (NORTH, PIT)
39. Amygdala / Listless (REVOLUTION)
40. Kiowa (REVOLUTION)
41. Sleep Waker (REVOLUTION)
42. The Remnant (REVOLUTION) - requested by Andi
July 2024
1. Gaerea - World Ablaze (from World Ablaze, 2024)
2. Akhlys - Maze of Phobetor (from House of the Black Geminus, 2024)
3. Árstíðir lífsins - Nauð greyprs élreka (from Aldrlok, 2024)
4. Adversarial - Merging Within the Destroyer (from Solitude With the Eternal..., 2024)
5. Enslaved - I lenker til Ragnarok (In Chains Until Ragnarok) (from Blodhemn, 1998)
6. Warmoon Lord - Blazing Warrior Soul (from Burning Banners of Funereal War, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]
7. Whoredom Rife - The Beautiful End of All (from Den vrede makt, 2024)
8. Master's Hammer - Utok (from Ritual, 1991) [Submitted by Daniel]
9. Sólstafir - Hin helga kvöl (from Hin helga kvöl, 2024)
10. Critical Defiance - Full Paranoia (from The Search Won't, 2024) [Submitted by Daniel]
11. Begotten - If All You Have Known Is Winter (from If All You Have Known Is Winter, 2020)
12. Saidan - Genocidal BloodFiend (from Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity, 2024) [Submitted by Vinny]
13. Emperor - My Empire's Doom (from Wrath of the Tyrant, 1992) [Submitted by Daniel]
14. Ætheria Conscientia - Endless Cycle (from The Blossoming, 2024)
15. Satanic North - Village (from Satanic North, 2024) [Submitted by Vinny]
16. Amiensus - A Consciousness Throughout Time (from Reclamation, 2024)
17. Evilfeast - From The Northern Wallachian Forest… Tyranny Returns (from Elegies of the Stellar Wind, 2017)
18. Pestilent Hex - Chapter II: "Nature of the Spirit" (from The Ashen Abhorrence, 2022)
19. Summoning - The Passing of the Grey Company (from Minas Morgul, 1995)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 22nd to the 28th of June, 2024.
1. Of Darkness (FALLEN)
2. Sons of Arrakis (FALLEN)
3. Graywave (GATEWAY, INFINITE)
4. Phantom Elite (GATEWAY, GUARDIANS, INFINITE)
5. Minas Tirith (GUARDIANS, INFINITE, PIT) - requested by Karl
6. Starlight Ritual (GUARDIANS)
7. Vision Master (GUARDIANS)
8. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL! (HORDE)
9. Baron (HORDE)
10. Krocophile (HORDE) - requested by ZeroSymbolic7188
11. MxMxM (HORDE)
12. Stenched (HORDE)
13. Submerged (HORDE)
14. Texas Ketamine (HORDE)
15. Vaticinal Rites (HORDE)
16. Faith (INFINITE, NORTH)
17. Leonov (INFINITE)
18. Mirar (INFINITE)
19. Curse (NORTH) - requested by Karl
20. Dungeon Steel (NORTH, PIT)
21. Gideon's Horn (NORTH)
22. Grinning God / Spider God (NORTH)
23. Houle (NORTH)
24. Kristallnacht (NORTH) - requested by Karl
25. Mørkriket (NORTH) - requested by Karl
26. Petracorensis (NORTH)
27. Seigneur Voland (NORTH) - requested by Karl
28. Sigrblot (NORTH) - requested by Karl
29. Tenebrosus (NORTH) - requested by Karl
30. Theotoxin (NORTH) - requested by Karl
31. Thule (NORTH) - requested by Karl
32. Venymysgourvleydh (NORTH)
33. Waidelotte (NORTH)
34. Doomsday (PIT)
35. Immortal Disfigurement (REVOLUTION)
36. Missing Link (REVOLUTION)
No need to apologise. I'm more than happy to prioritise adding requested bands over random bands that no-one is listening to.
I'm not sure that I have a favourite label, as I don't think I've paid attention to labels much since streaming took over.
That said, this discussion did remind me that I started Label Lists on the site a few years ago.
I had fun doing that, and it was a good way to add underground bands that possibly never would have hit the site otherwise.
Totally agree. I really enjoy The Arcane Odyssey, but there's something special about Glory and Perdition.
The Remnant is a single.
Ah, OK. In that case it won't be added to the site. Thanks.
Ben, please add the Becoming the Archetype album The Remnant.
This release doesn't appear on Metal Archives or even Discogs. Are you sure it's an official release?
Note that I can't add releases that haven't been released yet, as I need to have clarity of what clan, genre and subgenre they should be added to. I generally wait until releases have had around 50 ratings on RYM, as the genres have usually been solidified by them.
You know you're in the right clans when you actually struggle to come up with 10 bands you truly love outside of them. Here's my shot at it...
Faith No More (Gateway)
Iron Maiden (Guardians)
Black Sabbath (Guardians)
Opeth (Infinite)
Arcturus (Infinite)
Mr. Bungle (Infinite)
Meshuggah (Infinite)
Godflesh (Sphere)
Ministry (Sphere)
Red Harvest (Sphere)
If someone listened to 2 albums a day, that would be 730 albums a year. At that rate it would take 19 years to listen to 13,825 albums, and that's without ever listening to an album twice.
I really liked Glory and Perdition when it was featured on here, but I haven't gone back to another Sear Bliss album yet. Looks like this one will be the test to see how quickly I go back to their other ones, I have zero clue about their overall consistency given it seems like they bring in a ton of guests for their albums. Looking forward to it.
If you really liked Glory and Perdition, your next stop should definitely be The Arcane Odyssey. That's the most similar in style and quality. Many consider it to be their best.
OK, it's time to move on to what has to be the biggest subgenre of black metal...
ATMOSPHERIC BLACK METAL
It's always nice when there's one standout band that simply cannot be excluded. In this case, that band is...
Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss (1994)
There will no doubt be opinions on whether the selected album should be Hvis lyset tar oss or Filosofem, but my personal opinion is that Hvis lyset tar oss came first, and ultimately laid down the platform that the genre is known for. That said, I could understand the argument that Filosofem was more influential on the sheer weight of popularity. Thoughts?
Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler (1995)
It's true that Ulver only released one album that belongs to this subgenre, but Bergtatt has to be considered. This dark fairytale brought a dark folk element along with other non-metal aspects (such as acoustic guitar sections and clean vocals) while still retaining a strong connection to black metal. Arriving only a year after Hvis lyset tar oss, I feel like this album had a big impact on what was to come.
Summoning - Minas Morgul (1995)
One could argue that I only included this to piss off my brother, but that wouldn't be true. There's no doubt in my mind that Summoning took black metal in an entirely new direction, with it's focus on Tolkienesque imagery and atmosphere. While the horns, keyboards, sound effects and fantasy epic feel may on paper appear to go against what black metal is all about, the underlying riffs and vocals are 100% connected to the genre. Minas Morgul isn't the band's best album, but it was the first to take this path, and would set the groundwork for their subsequent releases as well as hordes of other Middle-Earth clones (such as Caladan Brood and Emyn Muil).
Agalloch - Pale Folklore (1999)
This is an album I include with some hesitation. There's no doubt that the band had a big impact on the scene, with their melding of black metal and folk. Of course, Ulver did that first, but the origins of the two bands (Ulver are from Norway, while Agalloch are from the United States) resulted in very different sounds. So why the hesitation? Well, Ulver felt like a black metal band bringing in folk aspects, whereas Agalloch feel like a post-metal band utilizing black metal techniques. While my personal opinion of an album shouldn't influence whether it's included on the list, I must state that I find the album to be poorly performed and not particularly compelling, while later releases (namely The Mantle and Ashes Against the Grain) that focus more on the post-metal aspect are far more convincing. Agalloch definitely had an influence on post-metal, but just how much influence did they have on black metal?
Paysage d'Hiver - Paysage d'Hiver (1999)
While Burzum is an obvious influence on the style of black metal that Paysage d'Hiver's perform, and Darkthrone is likely the influence for the sound, this Swiss one-man band certainly brought something new to the genre. The band name means Landscape of Winter, and that's exactly what you get here. The intentionally lo-fi production combined with the icy cold riffs and Wintherr's screams that seem to pierce through a blizzard make for a genuinely atmospheric album. One in which the major instruments (who cares about bass anyway) remain entirely audible despite the cacophonous environment. We obviously wouldn't have Darkspace without Paysage d'Hiver, and there are plenty of other bands (Trhä immediately come to mind) that have tried their hand at this sort of thing.
Weakling - Dead as Dreams (2000)
This is an album I only recently devoted enough time to fully grasp and appreciate, but it's generally considered to be the release that kicked off the U.S. black metal movement in the 2000s, just as the Scandinavian movement was stuttering after a glorious decade. That said, I can hear the influence a numerous predecessors on Dead as Dreams (strangely it's Emperor that enters my mind quite often), so I'm not sure it's musically as influential as it was to the region from which it originated. If anything, there's a very progressive approach to song structures that makes it unique, but not in a way that I can unquestionably link back to it. I may include this in my shortlist, but not with certainty that it will appear in the final list.
Blut aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God (2003)
While Blut aus Nord's Memoria Vetusta series contains a much more traditional version of atmospheric black metal, that certainly can't be said for The Work Which Transforms God (which to be honest, I'm not really sure should be considered an atmospheric black metal album). This release sounded nothing like anything that came before it, combining incredibly warped riffs and unhinged vocals. The only question is whether or not other bands were influenced by this disturbing approach. Well I don't think it's a coincidence that fellow countrymen Deathspell Omega transitioned from a fairly typical old school black metal outfit into the highly dissonant and somewhat avant-garde entity they became in 2004. That band would in turn influence craploads of bands, so perhaps The Work Which Transforms God deserves an element of credit?
Drudkh - Autumn Aurora (2004)
This Ukrainian band is often labelled a Burzum clone, but that feels a bit unfair to me. Sure, Burzum is clearly an influence, but while Paysage d'Hiver took Burzum to the coldest environment imaginable, I feel like Drudkh introduced a warmth to proceedings that, along with the gentle folkish melodies and almost-but-not-quite-monotonous repetition, gives their music a very comforting effect. This is harmless yet effortlessly enjoyable music, which may or may not be what you personally want from your black metal (no need to comment Daniel). I'm not sure this distinguishment alone justifies calling Drudkh pioneering or influential though.
Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters (2007)
These guys fully admit to being highly influenced by Weakling, which straight off gives us a reason not to include them, but that would be doing this U.S. band a disservice. For whatever reason, Wolves in the Throne Room have been labelled a hipster band, but this likely has as much to do with the huge popularity they gained in a short period of time as it does with the band's anti black metal nice guys reputation. But while many elitist black metal fans seem to feel violated by the watering down of their beloved genre by skinny jeans wearing vegans that wear glasses they don't need, one listen to Two Hunters should make it clear that these guys really understand what makes great atmospheric black metal. I have no doubt that the band brought a lot of new fans to the genre, many of whom may have gone on to make albums of their own, but I'm not sure they're doing anything we hadn't heard prior to 2006 (I can hear a fair bit of Drudkh in their sound too).
You'll note that I haven't mentioned Panopticon. This is mostly due to me not having listened to them beyond a few tracks added to The North playlist. I do understand that they introduced a distinctively American folk aspect to their work (bluegrass etc.), but I'm not sure that sort of instrumentation has found its way into other artist's work (at least not yet). Please correct me if I'm off the mark here.
OK, so which of the above am I going to shortlist? I'll select three that I feel strongly about, and three that have potential. As always, please let me know your thoughts. I'm by no means set on any of this.
Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss (1994)
Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler (1995)
Summoning - Minas Morgul (1995)
Paysage d'Hiver - Paysage d'Hiver (1999)
Weakling - Dead as Dreams (2000)
Blut aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God (2003)
I agree that depressive black metal only really became a thing anyone talked about in the early to mid 2000's. Could it be reasonable to state that the subgenre can be broken in half, being the warped sound that originated in Sweden (Silencer / Shining), and the more black metal focussed sound that came out of the United States (Xasthur / Leviathan), with most subsequent bands reflecting one or both of those movements?
If I assume the answer is yes, then I think Silencer's debut wins out over Shining for influence if not quality. I find it very difficult to split Xasthur or Leviathan though. Both brought loads of new fans to black metal and undoubtedly influenced lots of bands. My gut tells me that Xasthur is more important to the development of the subgenre despite the Leviathan album being the better release. I'm going to include both for now and ask that anyone that has an opinion on the matter raise their voice.
Silencer - Death - Pierce Me (2001)
Xasthur - Nocturnal Poisoning (2002)
Leviathan - The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide (2003)
The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 14th to the 21st of June, 2024.
1. Ba'al (FALLEN, INFINITE)
2. Blood Spore / Coagulate / Soul Devourment / Gutvoid (FALLEN, HORDE)
3. Bongzilla & Tons (FALLEN)
4. Grace Hayhurst (FALLEN, INFINITE)
5. Grat Strigoi (FALLEN, NORTH)
6. Sigil (FALLEN, NORTH)
7. Tyrannic (FALLEN, NORTH, PIT)
8. NECRONOMIDOL (GATEWAY)
9. Galactikraken & Jonathan Young (GUARDIANS)
10. Ironbound (GUARDIANS)
11. Azothyst (HORDE)
12. Cave Moth (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
13. Gnosis (HORDE, NORTH)
14. Gxllium (HORDE)
15. Liquid Viscera (HORDE)
16. Melting Rot (HORDE)
17. Nak'ay (HORDE)
18. Protosequence (HORDE, REVOLUTION)
19. Regurgitated Entrails (HORDE)
20. Siksakubur (HORDE) - requested by Pelle
21. Sperm of Mankind (HORDE) - requested by Pelle
22. Suppuration (HORDE) - requested by Pelle
23. Unearthly Rites (HORDE)
24. Vomit Ritual (HORDE)
25. Will 'O' Wisp (HORDE, INFINITE) - requested by Pelle
26. Atrocious Filth (INFINITE, SPHERE)
27. Anguis Dei (NORTH)
28. Bialywilk (NORTH)
29. Deceiver Legion (NORTH)
30. Destructo (NORTH, PIT)
31. Ehtëk (NORTH)
32. Gargoyle (ITA) (NORTH)
33. Korpituli (NORTH)
34. Magogaio (NORTH)
35. Moosegut (NORTH)
36. Oriflamme (NORTH)
37. Paisaunt (NORTH)
38. Sirpinmurtaja (NORTH)
39. Unknown Artist (NORTH)
40. Valdaudr (NORTH)
41. Μνήμα / Spider God (NORTH)
42. Burning Lord (PIT)
43. Desolus (PIT)
44. Carcosa (REVOLUTION)
45. Extinguish (REVOLUTION)
46. Nursing (REVOLUTION)
47. Pintglass (REVOLUTION)
48. Under the Pier (REVOLUTION)
49. Worst Doubt (REVOLUTION)
50. Dome Runner (SPHERE)
Ben, the Strid self-titled released was technically only a 7" single. Should it even be considered here?
I really only mention that release as it's generally considered the earliest example of the sound, which I'm interested in assessing. Do you have any feedback on any of the other releases or are we out of your wheelhouse?