Ben's Forum Replies

I was eyeing off that Seprevation album. I guess I'll have to listen to an Overkill album. I don't have high hopes.

I've never properly listend to Mgla. Now's my chance!

Vile Creature for me. Hopefully I don't have a similar reaction to it as represented on the cover.

Time for another Review Draft for The Pit. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Sonny

2. Vinny

3. Ben

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

Sonny gets first pick this month...

Time for another Review Draft for The North. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Sonny

2. Vinny

3. Ben

4. Xephyr

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

There are some good options in this draft. Sonny's the lucky first pick...

Time for another Review Draft for The Horde. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Ben

2. Vinny

The four albums to select from are... (drumroll)...

I get first pick this month, so I'll take the Zealotry album.

Over to you Vinny...

Time for another Review Draft for The Fallen. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Sonny

2. Vinny

3. Ben

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

Heavy on Sludge this month. Sonny gets first pick...

June 2023

1. Akhlys - Somniloquy (from Melinoë, 2020)

2. Esoctrilihum - Saturnian Bloodstorm (from Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac, 2023)

3. Lamp of Murmuur - Hymns of Death, Rays of Might (from Saturnian Bloodstorm, 2023)

4. Austere - Sullen (from Corrosion of Hearts, 2023)

5. Sól án varma - Afbrigði VII (from Sól án varma, 2023)

6. Ifernach - La dernière peresgrination d'Étienne Bois Brûlé (from Waqan, 2020)

7. Djevel - I daudens dimme natt (from Naa skrider natten sort, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

8. Mico - Zigurat (from Zigurat, 2022)

9. Sadness - I Want To Be There (from I Want To Be There, 2019) [Submitted by Daniel]

10. Tilintetgjort - Vinter og høst (from In Death I Shall Arise, 2023) [Submitted by Vinny]

11. Árstíðir Lifsins - Gamalt ríki faðmar þá grænu ok svǫrtu hringi lífs ok aldrslita (from Saga á tveim tungum II: Eigi fjǫll né firðir, 2020) [Submitted by Sonny]

12. Ymir - Pagan Mysticism (from Ymir, 2020)

13. Hyrgal - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (from Session fun​é​raire anno MMXXIII, 2023) [Submitted by Vinny]

14. Emperor - Thus Spake the Nightspirit (from Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, 1997) [Submitted by Sonny]

15. Trhä - Alandlhan ëlh Nítak (from Nvenlanëg, 2020)

Hi Ben, my suggestions for June:

Árstíðir Lifsins - "Ek sá halr at Hóars veðri hǫsvan serk Hrísgrísnis bar" from "Saga á tveim tungum II: Eigi fjǫll né firðir" (2020)

Emperor - "Thus Spake the Nightspirit" from "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" (1997)

Hi Sonny... you've selected the Árstíðir Lifsins track previously. I'd include it again, but it is a near 18 minute epic, so I've selected another popular track off the album. If you'd prefer to replace with something else, let me know. Cheers.

Acid Drinkers - Verses of Steel (2008)

With 17 full length albums, Polish band Acid Drinkers are an outfit I've considered checking out many times. The main thing that's turned me off over the years is the way their album covers suggest the band are just having a laugh. I had noticed that their 2008 album Verses of Steel is relatively well received though, so when it appeared as an option in this month's Review Draft for The Pit, I figured it was time to take the plunge? Do I regret that decision? Well, at least now I know that my natural aversion was correct all along. Before I go any further, I'm surprised this only has a thrash metal primary on RYM (and therefore here). There's a fair bit of groove metal on this album, as well as a hint of crossover thrash from time to time. Regardless of where it fits on the metal tree, Verses of Steel has a surprising lack of emphasis on riffs. There are plenty to experience if you choose to focus on them, but they're rarely powerful or effective, and I find the vocals draw my attention away from them more often than not. That could have something to do with the vocalist's spasmodic approach, and I have to say that I don't enjoy them for the most part. Like the band's artwork so often does, the band seems to be going for an entertaining and somewhat comedic approach, which just rubs me up the wrong way. I'll take vicious and brutal over humurous and playful anyday (unless it's Mike Patton).

In the end I've given Verses of Steel plenty of time to connect with me. It's not terrible, and I found myself enjoying parts of it quite a bit when I wasn't being so critical. I'm not surprised that they have a reasonable sized fanbase, but this isn't what I want from my thrash metal. If you want to check it out, second track In a Black Sail Wrapped is easily the highlight. Don't expect the rest of the album to be at that standard though.

3 stars

Lunar Aurora - Andacht (2007)

This is a wonderful album that more black metal fans should experience. I first heard back when it was released and it's one of those albums that I find myself going back to over and over for another fix. I know it seems redundant to use the word atmospheric when describing a release in a subgenre that contains the word itself, but these Germans completely filled all 54 minutes of Andacht with it. The black metal itself has a heap of emotion enducing riffs and (surprisingly audible) basslines, but the addition of moving synths, gregorian chants and snippets from various sources (I recognise Bram Stoker's Dracula for one) take it to a whole other level. These aspects also help to give each of the six tracks their own identity and, unlike many atmospheric black metal albums, I'm never in doubt as to which track I'm listening to. I've always assumed that this is an album deserving of five stars, but now that I've given it a few concentrated listens in the past week, I've come to realise that it does lose steam towards the end. The final two tracks are not quite as great as the first four, and it's this drop that has resulted in me settling on a high 4.5. Andacht is still an album I highly recommend to anyone that enjoys black metal.

As a final note, I discovered today that the band utilised a drum machine for this recording. I'm sure Daniel will tell me it's obvious, but I must admit it's never even crossed my mind throughout all the listens over the years. I'm not one of those elitists that think drums have to be real for the music to be authentic, so it makes no difference to me. Either way, they're clearly done extremely well here.

4.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 18th to the 24th of May, 2023.

1. Intensive Care (FALLEN, SPHERE)

2. American Heritage (FALLEN, REVOLUTION)

3. Misery Inc. (FALLEN, GUARDIANS, HORDE)

4. At the Soundawn (FALLEN, INFINITE)

5. Brand New Sin (FALLEN)

6. Stumm (FALLEN)

7. Worship of Keres (FALLEN) - requested by Sonny

8. Sea Witch (FALLEN)

9. Zatokrev (FALLEN)

10. The Abbey (FALLEN, INFINITE)

11. Cire (GATEWAY)

12. Crowne (GUARDIANS)

13. Battleheart (GUARDIANS)

14. Euclid C Finder (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

15. Katalepsy / Fleshrot / Blunt Force Trauma (HORDE)

16. Burn in Silence (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

17. Satan's Revenge on Mankind (HORDE)

18. The Day Everything Became Nothing (HORDE)

19. The Cumshots (HORDE)

20. Lotus Eater Machine (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

21. Vile Rites (HORDE, INFINITE)

22. Malefic Throne (HORDE)

23. Encystment (HORDE)

24. Mass Infection (HORDE)

25. Eventide (HORDE)

26. Aversion to Life (HORDE)

27. Goretrade (HORDE)

28. Aurora Borealis (HORDE, NORTH)

29. Fleshgore (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

30. Mörglbl (INFINITE)

31 .Strawberry Song Orchestra (INFINITE)

32. Warhammer 48k (INFINITE)

33. The Chemical Mind (INFINITE, NORTH, SPHERE)

34. Essence of Sorrow (INFINITE)

35. Wolok (INFINITE, NORTH, SPHERE)

36. Tristengrav (NORTH)

37. Leichengott (NORTH)

38. Funeral Procession (NORTH)

39. Mord (NORTH)

40. Labyrinthus Stellarum (NORTH)

41. Mystagogue (NORTH)

42. Zavorash (NORTH)

43. Hordak (NORTH)

44. Kob' (NORTH)

45. Abgott (NORTH)

46. Above Aurora (NORTH) - requested by Sonny

47. Aggressa (PIT) - requested by Daniel

48. Fester Fanatics (PIT) - requested by Daniel

49. Horrorscope (PIT)

50. A Mourning Star (REVOLUTION)

51. Lorelei (REVOLUTION)

52. Catherine (REVOLUTION)

53. Ligeia (REVOLUTION)

54. If Hope Dies (REVOLUTION)

55. Underneath the Gun (REVOLUTION)

56. PSYCHO-FRAME (REVOLUTION)

57. Ov Sulfur (REVOLUTION)

I'm going to throw Blut Aus Nord into this conversation. Sure, they have a couple of albums that weren't that well received in the late 2000s, but the vast majority of their 14 full length albums are superb. They're also quite experimental with their sound, making their consistency extra impressive.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 10th to the 17th of May, 2023.

1. Anatomia / Grudge / Coffins (FALLEN)

2. Bosque / Senthil (FALLEN)

3. Vir (FALLEN)

4. Predatory Void (FALLEN, INFINITE, NORTH)

5. Wijlen Wij (FALLEN)

6. Evig Natt (FALLEN)

7. Mourning Dawn (FALLEN, NORTH)

8. Engineer (FALLEN, REVOLUTION)

9. Moho (FALLEN)

10. Yantarnie Slezy (FALLEN)

11. Malignant Tumour (GUARDIANS, HORDE)

12. Tales of Medusa (GUARDIANS)

13. Magni Animi Viri (GUARDIANS)

14. Alhambra (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

15. Hangar (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

16. Tacere (GUARDIANS)

17. Dark at Dawn (GUARDIANS)

18. Torture Tomb (HORDE)

19. Rorikiller (HORDE)

20. Memfis (HORDE, INFINITE)

21. Mustan Kuun Lapset (HORDE, NORTH)

22. Immortal Souls (HORDE)

23. 7000 Dying Rats (HORDE, INFINITE)

24. Machinemade God (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

25. Denial Fiend (HORDE, PIT)

26. Pandemonium (HORDE)

27. Manticore (HORDE, NORTH)

28. Asystole (HORDE)

29. The Chronicles of Israfel (INFINITE)

30. Freakeys (INFINITE)

31. Playgrounded (INFINITE)

32. SUIZID (NORTH)

33. Ominous Resurrection (NORTH)

34. Gorgonea Prima (NORTH, SPHERE)

35. Masochist (NORTH)

36. Anthelion (NORTH)

37. Todeskult (NORTH)

38. Locus Mortis (NORTH)

39. Cryfemal (NORTH)

40. Helvetespine (NORTH)

41. Hellvetic Frost (NORTH)

42. Anwech (NORTH)

43. Azrael (NORTH)

44. Dead Raven Choir (NORTH)

45. Klage (NORTH)

46. Funerary Bell (NORTH)

47. Black Horizons (NORTH)

48. Sworn (ARM) (NORTH)

49. Gernotshagen (NORTH)

50. Munruthel (NORTH)

51. Wolven Ancestry (NORTH)

52. Permanent Damage (PIT) - requested by Daniel

53. Death Goals (REVOLUTION)

54. MKULTRA (SPHERE)

Impious - Death Domination (2009)

When I saw that Impious are from Sweden and that Death Domination, their sixth and seemingly final album, is listed as melodic death metal, I immediately assumed I was about to experience just another band from the In Flames / Soilwork school. This expectation was very quickly obliterated though, as this album gets off to a much more brutal start than those bands ever attempted, with the first couple of tracks ripping along with more typical death metal ferocity. Vocalist Martin Åkesson barks his vocals out with a heap of aggression, and drummer Mikke Norén puts the pedal to the metal, with regular blast beats and a generally high level of energy. There are definitely moments on the album that sit more comfortably beside the aforementioned bands, and the melodic death metal tag isn't unwarranted, but don't be put off if Swedish melodic death metal isn't normally your thing.

All this said, I have to admit that I enjoy the mid section of the album the most, particularly And the Empire Shall Fall and Hate Killing Project, where the band change things up and slow things down. The majority of the album relies heavily on intense vocal rhythms and intense battery, with the riffs often taking the runners up position in the race. When the band take the time to concentrate on writing more varied song structures, things become much more interesting and memorable for me. As things are, this album just isn't all that compelling, and my feelings for it are generally as lukewarm as the middling reception this band tends to get online.

3 stars

Evoken - The Mournful Refusal off Antithesis of Light (2005)

Dolorian - Raja Naga – Rising off Voidwards (2006)

Thanks Sonny!

Heavenwood - Abyss Masterpiece (2011)

I guess I should start by saying that I'm a fan of gothic metal. Just making that statement can be somewhat daunting amongst many metal fans, as it feels very much like a minority subgenre to enjoy. I've spent a lot of time over the years listening to the likes of Tiamat, The Gathering, Theatre of Tragedy, Katatonia, Moonspell and Paradise Lost, not to mention gothic death doom bands like My Dying Bride and Draconian. As with any style of music though, this doesn't mean that I enjoy ALL gothic metal releases. Case in point - Heavenwood's Abyss Masterpiece album. Here we have a band that seems to be attempting to follow the Paradise Lost recipe, yet inadvertently forgets to include some vital ingredients. Given the relative simplicity of the musicianship found in your typical gothic metal release, it's super important that the outcome manages to connect with the listener on an emotional level. The bands I mentioned above are not attempting to wow you with technicality and often make little attempt to be particularly creative, but what they do well is move the listener with melancholic and despondent atmosphere (occasionally even romantic). Heavenwood seem perfectly capable and have a solid production, but rarely make me feel much at all. It's only really on The Arcadia Order and Leonor that I find myself getting all that involved, and given Abyss Masterpiece has a runtime of over an hour, that's just not enough meat on the bone. As a final note, I'm not sure how this release has been given a death doom metal subgenre at RYM. There's very little that resembles doom here.

2.5 stars

The above description was very useful for me when trying to understand what sludge metal was. I think Daniel actually wrote this in response to my confusion.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 29th of April to the 9th of May, 2023.

1. The Grand Astoria (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

2. Reverend Bizarre / Rättö ja Lehtisalo (FALLEN)

3. Full Blown A.I.D.S. (FALLEN)

4. Hebosagil (FALLEN, GATEWAY, INFINITE)

5. Leif Edling (FALLEN)

6. Monno (FALLEN, INFINITE)

7. Journey to Ixtlan (FALLEN)

8. Clouds (FALLEN)

9. Supercontinent (FALLEN, INFINITE)

10. Dictator (FALLEN, NORTH)

11. Hey Colossus (FALLEN)

12. Dysthymia (FALLEN, NORTH)

13. Trees (FALLEN)

14. Katra (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

15. Apathy Noir (FALLEN, HORDE)

16. Grim Salvo (GATEWAY)

17. Molten Chains (GUARDIANS)

18. RichaadEB (GUARDIANS)

19. Enchanter (GUARDIANS)

20. Xystus (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

21. Heathendom (GUARDIANS)

22. Crystallion (GUARDIANS)

23. Karlahan (GUARDIANS, HORDE, INFINITE)

24. Lethal Steel (GUARDIANS)

25. Heavy Metal Perse (GUARDIANS)

26. Dignity (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

27. Almôra (GUARDIANS, NORTH)

28. Savage Oath (GUARDIANS)

29. Century (GUARDIANS)

30. Angus McSix (GUARDIANS)

31. Blood Star (GUARDIANS)

32. Dead Congregation / Hatespawn (HORDE)

33. Hectic Patterns (HORDE)

34. Hybrid (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

35. The End of Six Thousand Years (HORDE)

36. Animals Killing People (HORDE)

37. Cliteater (HORDE)

38. Cesspool of Vermin (HORDE)

39. Ego Fall (HORDE, NORTH, REVOLUTION)

40. Mechanism (HORDE)

41. FesterDecay (HORDE)

42. Lunar Chamber (HORDE, INFINITE)

43. Hateform (HORDE)

44. In Dread Response (HORDE)

45. Cardiac Arrest (HORDE)

46. Gloria Morti (HORDE, NORTH)

47. Agenda of Swine (HORDE)

48. Dysentery (HORDE)

49. Kataplexia (HORDE)

50. Facebreaker (HORDE)

51. Terminal Function (HORDE, INFINITE)

52. Beyond Mortal Dreams (HORDE)

53. Step in Fluid (INFINITE)

54. Bittencourt Project (INFINITE)

55. Wetnurse (INFINITE)

56. This Is Past (INFINITE, NORTH)

57. Moonlyght (INFINITE)

58. Eyefear (INFINITE)

59. Orakle (INFINITE, NORTH)

60. Katharos XIII (INFINITE, NORTH)

61. Altai-Sayan (NORTH)

62. Wederganger / Urfaust (NORTH)

63. Kalevala (NORTH)

64. Selvhat (NORTH)

65. Lascowiec (NORTH)

66. The One (NORTH)

67. Grimnir / Trist / Regnum / Hypothermia (NORTH)

68. Hypomanie (NORTH)

69. IC Rex (NORTH)

70. Elite (NORTH)

71. Spitfire (REVOLUTION)

72. American Me (REVOLUTION)

73. The Plasmarifle (REVOLUTION)

74. Hollow Prophet / Scumfuck (REVOLUTION)

75. Northlane & In Hearts Wake (REVOLUTION)

I do love that you have an Iron Maiden album in your top 10 worst releases of all time. I don't think I've ever heard that album, so I'm not saying you're wrong.

Oops. Yes, you're correct. This is the May playlist. Glad you enjoyed it!

I guess I'll finally listen to an Acid Drinkers album.

Over to you Sonny...

Definitely Lunar Aurora for me. I know I really like this album, but I've never rated / reviewed it. Now's the time!

You around Xephyr?

I'll go with Impious, but not with any confidence.

I'll go with Heavenwood.

Over to you Sonny...

Time for another Review Draft for The Pit. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Vinny

2. Ben

3. Sonny

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

Vinny gets first pick this month (again!)...

Time for another Review Draft for The North. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Vinny

2. Ben

3. Xephyr

4. Sonny

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

Vinny gets first pick this month...

Time for another Review Draft for The Horde. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Vinny

2. Ben

The four albums to select from are... (drumroll)...

Vinny gets first pick this month...

Time for another Review Draft for The Fallen. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Vinny

2. Ben

3. Sonny

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

Vinny gets first pick this month...

May 2023

1. Keep of Kalessin - Katharsis (from Katharsis, 2023)

2. Sarastus - Open the Noxious Veins (from The Deceased Dwell in Darkness, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

3. Burzum - Erblicket die Töchter des Firmaments (from Filosofem, 1996)

4. Hoplites - Ἔκτρωμα (from Τρωθησομένη, 2023)

5. Totalselfhatred - Enlightenment (from Totalselfhatred, 2008)

6. Aara - Emphase der Seelenpein (from Triade III: Nyx, 2023)

7. Labyrinthus Stellarum - Void Dwellers (from Tales of the Void, 2023)

8. Furia - Opętaniec (from Nocel, 2014)

9. Imperium Dekadenz - The Night Whispers to the Wise (from Dämmerung der Szenarien, 2007) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Marduk - Beyond the Grace of God (from Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered, 1996)

11. Winterhorde - Worms of Soul (from Maestro, 2016)

12. Alcest - Faiseurs de mondes (from Les voyages de l'ame, 2012) [Submitted by Daniel]

13. Portrayal of Guilt - Devil Music (from Devil Music, 2023)

14. Ulver - Capitel V: Bergtatt - Ind i fjeldkamrene (from Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler, 1995)

15. Nordicwinter - A Blissful Twilight Death (from Threnody, 2007) [Submitted by Vinny]

16. Abigail Williams - Flood (from In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns, 2008)

17. Conqueror - Domitor Invictus (from War.Cult.Supremacy, 1999) [Submitted by Daniel]

18. Amesoeurs - Bonheur amputé (from Ruines humaines, 2006)

19. Darkspace - Dark 3.11 (from Dark Space III, 2008)

It's certainly something I can discuss with my developer. Unfortunately he's very busy these days, so it can be hard to lock in time. I'll ask him what he thinks.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 21st to the 28th of April, 2023.

1. Malevich (FALLEN, NORTH)

2. Chat Pile / Nerver (FALLEN)

3. MAG (FALLEN)

4. Astrosoniq (FALLEN)

5. Human Quena Orchestra, The (FALLEN)

6. Disappearer (FALLEN, INFINITE)

7. Manatees (FALLEN, INFINITE)

8. Realmbuilder (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

9. House of Broken Promises (FALLEN)

10. Odium (GATEWAY, HORDE, REVOLUTION)

11. City of Fire (GATEWAY)

12. Jonah Quizz (GUARDIANS)

13. Wildpath (GUARDIANS)

14. Hevisaurus (GUARDIANS)

15. Helvetets Port (GUARDIANS)

16. Blazon Rite (GUARDIANS)

17. Manimal (GUARDIANS)

18. Whyzdom (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

19. Empress (GUARDIANS) - requested by illusionist

20. Oni (HORDE) - requested by Daniel

21. General Surgery / Butcher ABC (HORDE)

22. Borgia (HORDE, NORTH)

23. Infinitum Obscure (HORDE)

24. Degradead (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

25. Those Who Lie Beneath (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

26. Putrefaction Sets In (HORDE)

27. Wills Dissolve (HORDE, INFINITE)

28. Vile Apparition (HORDE)

29. In Grief (HORDE, INFINITE)

30. Instant Suppression (HORDE, INFINITE)

31. Faust (HORDE)

32. Manufacturer's Pride (HORDE)

33. Lay Down Rotten (HORDE)

34. Embryonic Depravity (HORDE)

35. Fondlecorpse (HORDE)

36. Metroid Metal (INFINITE)

37. Three Steps to the Ocean (INFINITE)

38. Red Circuit (INFINITE)

39. Darkology (INFINITE)

40. Heáfodbán (NORTH)

41. Telos (NORTH, REVOLUTION)

42. Folkvang (NORTH)

43. Diamatregon (NORTH)

44. Myrkr (NORTH)

45. Depressive Years (NORTH)

46. Kult Ofenzivy (NORTH)

47. The Arrival of Satan (NORTH)

48. Eyes of Noctum (NORTH)

49. Calderum (NORTH)

50. Wintaar (NORTH)

51. Yggdrasil (NORTH)

52. Gothmog (NORTH)

53. Fferyllt (NORTH)

54. All the Cold (NORTH)

55. Rimfrost (NORTH)

56. Hellsaw (NORTH)

57. Körgull the Exterminator (NORTH, PIT)

58. Instinct of Survival (PIT)

59. Urto (PIT)

60. Exhibition (PIT)

61. Prayers of Sanity (PIT)

62. Dead and Divine (REVOLUTION)

63. The Empire Shall Fall (REVOLUTION)

64. Corpus Christi (REVOLUTION)

65. In the Midst of Lions (REVOLUTION)

Violator - Violent Mosh (2004)

Having ignored most thrash bands that have formed in the past couple of decades, I've lately discovered that there's more quality there than I'd previously assumed. Brazilian band Violator are yet another example of some dudes trying to replicate what their heroes were doing a generation prior, but they do so with admirable energy and an abundance of exciting thrash riffs. If you enjoy Exodus in their prime, then this will almost certainly provide a level of entertainment and comfort. I enjoy the first four tracks enough to rate this a bit higher, but there are some flaws with this EP that cause me drop my score down. First and foremost, the final two tracks were clearly recorded in a different session. I did some digging and discovered that they were actually recorded for a compilation a year prior. The production isn't as good and the songwriting is lacking in comparison to the other tracks on the EP to the point where I think it would have just been better without them. My second flaw is a bit more nitpicky, but Violator's tendency to include silliness at the end of tracks, such as the belch at the end of Thrash Maniacs and the apparent acoustic busker closing off the otherwise excellent The Plague Never Dies. As much as these flaws tarnish the experience for me, I still think Violent Mosh is deserving of 3 stars. I'll definitely check out their first full length at some point.

3 stars

Just added a new band that fits this topic nicely. Wintaar have 39 full length albums, all released between 2016 and 2023. Only one album has more than 25 ratings, bring Winterwomb from 2017. So much effort... so little response.

I do wonder what keeps bands like this going, particularly at such a high rate of output. Anyway, the good news is that many of these albums have outstanding covers, which made adding them to the site quite enjoyable.

Please note that none of what I'm about to say is directed at anyone. It's just that this topic has been on my mind a lot in recent years.

I must admit that I've attempted way too many chronological order projects over the years, ignoring the fact that I'm generally never going to get even of a fraction of the way through any of the lists. To be very honest, I know that I'm struggling a bit with life when I start spending all my time making lists of things I'm going to do, rather than actually doing them. Lists of every movie I'm going to watch, without actually watching any. Lists of comics or books I'm going to read, without ever reading a page. Whenever I find myself doing this these days, I force myself to actually do something rather than just planning to do something, even though the completist in me is screaming that "I haven't started from the right place in time" or "I've not experienced all the predecessors to this to be able to fully appreciate it". This website actually helps a lot, as I can funnel these completist tendencies into something that metal fans can use and appreciate (including myself).

Anyway, I'm certainly not telling anyone that chronological plans should never be undertaken (I still do it). I just think setting an achievable criteria is a must, to avoid almost certain failure. My advice? Set a number of albums you can realistically listen to over the course of a few months (maybe 20, 50 or 100). You want to check out every important power metal or death metal album? Start with the top 20, then once you've finished with that, add another 20, and then another. At some point you'll almost certainly get bored or be inspired to do something else, at which point you won't have wasted your time exploring all the most primitive and often shit releases without ever getting to the stuff you actually wanted to experience. Burnout is real, and the best way to achieve it is to force yourself through low quality content when you could be listening to the cream of the crop.

For anyone that's interested, my current project is to work my way through a list of 100 releases (chronologically of course), made up of the top 25 releases on RYM for each of my favourite genres (death metal, black metal, thrash metal, doom metal). I'm putting them in a precise order as I go, with the end goal of finally figuring out what my top 25 releases of all time actually is (so I can populate it in my Metal Academy profile). Once I reach the end of the 100 releases, if I'm still interested in continuing, I plan to add an additional genre (I'm currently eyeing off progressive metal, gothic metal or maybe even industrial metal) and form a list of 125 to move onto. I'll keep going until something pulls me in another direction, but at least I feel like these lists are achievable. I'm already 40 releases through the first list and having fun.

This should do the trick. 

If I'm not too late for this month, here are my submissions...

The Howling Void - Lord of the Black Gulf off Shadows Over the Cosmos (2010)

Stake (aka Steak Number Eight) - Photonic off The Hutch (2013)

Thanks Sonny.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 13th to the 20th of April, 2023.

1. Garden of Worm (FALLEN)

2. Black September (FALLEN, HORDE, NORTH)

3. Funeral Tears (FALLEN)

4. Mose Giganticus (FALLEN)

5. General Lee (FALLEN, INFINITE)

6. Turbid North (FALLEN, HORDE)

7. Dragonauta (FALLEN, INFINITE)

8. Rosetta / Restorations (FALLEN, INFINITE)

9. Sól án varma (FALLEN, NORTH)

10. nothing,nowhere. (GATEWAY)

11. Dawn of Silence (GUARDIANS)

12. Golden Resurrection (GUARDIANS)

13. Skinflint (GUARDIANS)

14. Canopy (HORDE)

15. Andromorphus Rexalia (HORDE)

16. Paroxsihzem (HORDE)

17. Stench (HORDE)

18. Bum Sick (HORDE)

19. Nex Carnis (HORDE)

20. No One Gets Out Alive (HORDE)

21. Krampus (HORDE, NORTH, REVOLUTION)

22. Incarnia (HORDE)

23. Universum (HORDE)

24. Hideous Deformity (HORDE)

25. Úlfúð (HORDE, NORTH)

26. Plague Bearer (HORDE, NORTH)

27. TDK (INFINITE)

28. Whirling (INFINITE)

29. I Built the Sky (INFINITE)

30. Mantric (INFINITE)

31. Labirinto (INFINITE)

32. Sadness // Abriction (NORTH)

33. Spear of Cassius (NORTH, REVOLUTION)

34. Doodswens (NORTH)

35. Viter (NORTH, SPHERE)

36. Pustota (NORTH)

37. Misogi (NORTH)

38. Supplicium (NORTH)

39. Hexenmeister (NORTH)

40. Panopticon / When Bitter Spring Sleeps (NORTH)

41. Svartrit (NORTH)

42. Flagellant (NORTH)

43. Jaldaboath (NORTH)

44. Tilintetgjort (NORTH) - requested by Vinny

45. Bitter End (PIT, REVOLUTION)

46. Skourge (PIT, REVOLUTION)

47. Thrown (REVOLUTION)

48. Etienne Sin (REVOLUTION)

49. Zubrowska (REVOLUTION)

50. A Bullet for Pretty Boy (REVOLUTION)

51. A Hero A Fake (REVOLUTION)

52. For All Those Sleeping (REVOLUTION)

53. Fit for an Autopsy / Thy Art Is Murder / Malevolence (REVOLUTION)

Sturmgeist - Meister Mephisto (2005)

My options weren't great in the April Review Draft for The North, but I must admit that I felt like an explorer intent on uncovering a hidden treasure when I selected Sturmgeist's Meister Mephisto album from 2005. It had ok ratings, and I generally find enjoyment whenever industrial and black metal are melded together (Aborym, Thorns etc.). My confidence was quickly challenged though, with the first few tracks having very little to do with black metal at all. Instead I was experiencing a strange version of German industrial metal with a gothic coat of paint. I did however quickly recognise the vocalist as none other than Cornelius Jakhelln from the very avant-garde Solefald, and this fact alone reinvigorated me to push on and give the album time to work whatever magic the crazy guy was conjuring into my ear. Fast forward three full listens and I have to say that I've not discovered anything that I particularly enjoy. Simplistic riffs can be fine in industrial metal when the album is given a huge production, but that's not the case here. Cornelius' vocals are generally always over-theatrical, but I find them to be extra difficult to tolerate in this framework. The album does veer further into black metal as it goes on though, particularly closing track Walpurgisnacht - 2. Satz: Meister Mephisto, and it's here that I feel the band's potential is uncovered. Sadly, it's too little too late, with the remaining bad taste convincing me that this is one bottle I won't be partaking from in future.

2 stars

The Howling Void - Shadows Over the Cosmos (2010)

Daniel has recommended this album to me a couple of times in the past, but I ignored him, just like I tried to do when we were kids and he refused to get out of my room. I'm starting to wonder whether he did actually have something interesting to say all those times. It still seems unlikely, but on this occassion I have to begrudgingly admit that he's right. The Howling Void's second full length, Shadows Over the Cosmos, is 100% up my alley, and I'm hitting myself (which also happens to be something he used to make me do) that I didn't check it out earlier. This is Skepticism worship of the highest order, with slow pounding drums, a backdrop of atmospheric yet non-invasive keyboards, deep chasm-filling death vocals, and a combination of simplistic yet impactful heavy riffs and gorgeous melodies. If you like Funeral Doom Metal, and it's definitely not for everyone, then there's absolutely no reason that you won't find this to be a crushing and emotionally moving album. That said, it is an album that needs a couple of spins before you can really appreciate it, but that's really a given for music as sparse and lengthy as this (there are only four real tracks, but it still has a running time of just under an hour).

How this rates 3.47 on RYM while albums it clearly matches in quality and style are up over 3.70 is just beyond me. Sonny, don't be like me and ignore this release any longer (if indeed you haven't already checked it out). I think you'll dig this! The title track and closing monster Lord of the Black Gulf are my highlights.

4.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 30th of March to the 12th of April, 2023.

1. Bong-Ra (FALLEN, INFINITE)

2. Bad Life (FALLEN)

3. Earthship (FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. Universe 217 (FALLEN, INFINITE)

5. Bongripper / Conan (FALLEN)

6. Gator Bait Ten (FALLEN)

7. Ice Dragon (FALLEN)

8. Ocoai (FALLEN, INFINITE)

9. Wizard Smoke (FALLEN)

10. LizZard (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

11. Dropout Kings (GATEWAY)

12. Phantom Reign (GUARDIANS, PIT) - requested by Morpheus Kitami

13. The Wizards (GUARDIANS)

14. Trillium (GUARDIANS)

15. Sonic Poison (HORDE)

16. CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP (HORDE)

17. Wadge (HORDE)

18. Toughness (HORDE)

19. Stress Angel (HORDE, PIT)

20. Bones (HORDE)

21. Looking for an Answer (HORDE)

22. Deviant Syndrome (HORDE)

23. Puteraeon (HORDE)

24. Fumes of Decay (HORDE)

25. Keith Merrow (HORDE, INFINITE)

26. Artas (HORDE, PIT)

27. Cranial Osteotomy (HORDE)

28. Maze of Sothoth (HORDE)

29. Today I Caught the Plague (INFINITE)

30. FDS (INFINITE, NORTH)

31. BaK (INFINITE)

32. Akribi (INFINITE)

33. Aliases (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

34. Andy James (INFINITE, PIT, REVOLUTION)

35. Sadness / Oculi Melancholiarum (NORTH)

36. Eigenlicht (NORTH)

37. Belkètre (NORTH)

38. Aksumite (NORTH)

39. Saille (NORTH)

40. Circle of Ouroborus / Drowning the Light (NORTH)

41. Theriomorph (NORTH)

42. Flame (NORTH)

43. Shroud of Distress (NORTH)

44. Numinous (NORTH)

45. Noctem (NORTH)

46. Strike Master (PIT) - requested by Vinny

47. Toxic Wine (PIT) - requested by Vinny

48. Venemous (PIT) - requested by Vinny

49. Commando (PIT) - requested by Vinny

50. Tungsteno (PIT) - requested by Vinny

51. Piraña (PIT) - requested by Vinny

52. Disaster (PIT) - requested by Vinny

53. Marthirio (PIT) - requested by Vinny

54. The Force (PIT)

55. Fromjoy (REVOLUTION)

56. Tears Seven Times (REVOLUTION)

All three of us have stated in our reviews that there's little to no black metal on this release, so it is somewhat shocking that so many RYM members are voting that up. I have to wonder whether they've actually heard the album.

Anyway, I'm stoked that you guys enjoyed this feature as much as I do. I plan to check out more of their discography.

Note that we can't currently have a subgenre of a subgenre here at Metal Academy (I feel like that's a good thing), so if we want Dissonant Death Metal on the site, it can't be a subgenre of Technical Death Metal, which is already a subgenre of Death Metal. There are other instances of this on RYM (Gorenoise is a subgenre of Goregrind), but I've just been adding the releases here with the parent subgenre. It just hasn't felt right to me adding every album listed as Dissonant Death Metal on RYM as Technical Death Metal. As Daniel suggests, there are albums that are clearly dissonant, but not overly technical.

As always though, if anyone disagrees with our suggested approach, or can think of another way of doing things, let's discuss.

I bought that Altar album on CD as soon as it was released based on rave reviews that stated it was as evil as Deicide. Spoiler alert: I recall being very disappointed.

I recall you having it, but I don't think I ever listened to it.

Wow. I've ended up getting first pick for all four of my drafts this month. I better make the most of it.

I'll go with the Violator EP. I don't think I've ever heard the band before.

Over to you Sonny...

Time for another Review Draft for The Pit. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Ben

2. Sonny

3. Vinny

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

I get first pick this month and...ahem...that appears to be fortunate, as none of these albums have received much praise from what I can see. I'm going to take a punt here and choose the Sturmgeist album, if for no other reason than I generally enjoy industrial black metal.

Over to you Xephyr, if you're around this month...

Time for another Review Draft for The North. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Ben

2. Xephyr

3. Sonny

4. Vinny

The six releases to select from are... (drumroll)...

I get first pick this month, so I'll go with...hmmmm...not a great line-up to be honest. I'll take the Stillborn album.

Over to you Vinny...

Time for another Review Draft for The Horde. This month's pick order will be as follows...

1. Ben

2. Vinny

The four albums to select from are... (drumroll)...