Ben's Forum Replies

I get first pick this month. Hmmm... I'd be happy with most of these releases. I've always wanted to spend some time in The Howling Void, so that's my pick.

Over to you Sonny...

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

1. Ben

2. Sonny

3. Vinny

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

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Sw9mEcyXo1pGyFHR3znLT?si=5d01e19b4ad14581

1. Azaghal - Kuolemanmarssi (from Alttarimme on luista tehty, 2023)

2. Vorna - Maa martona makaa (from Sateet palata saavat, 2019)

3. Sarcoptes - Trenches (from Prayers to Oblivion, 2023)

4. Liber Null - Hexenblood Vessel (from Whom Is the Night, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

5. Mayhem - Freezing Moon (from De mysteriis dom Sathanas, 1994)

6. Falaise - Revelations of the Red Sword (from After All This Time, 2023)

7. Svartidaudi - Aureum Lux (from Revelations of the Red Sword, 2018) [Submitted by Daniel]

8. Psychonaut 4 - Tbilisian Tragedy (from Beautyfall, 2020)

9. Afsky - Tak for alt (from Om hundrede år, 2023)

10. Frozen Dawn - Cosmic Black Chaos (from The Decline of the Enlightened Gods, 2023)

11. Panopticon - Into the North Woods (from Autumn Eternal, 2015) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Mgła - Exercises in Futility V (from Exercises in Futility, 2015)

13. Downfall of Gaia - Optograms of Disgust (from Silhouettes of Disgust, 2023)

14. Cerberus - Kingdom of Emptiness (from My Prophecy Will Come, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Moonsorrow - (from Tulimyrsky EP, 2008)

April 2023

1. Azaghal - Kuolemanmarssi (from Alttarimme on luista tehty, 2023)

2. Vorna - Maa martona makaa (from Sateet palata saavat, 2019)

3. Sarcoptes - Trenches (from Prayers to Oblivion, 2023)

4. Liber Null - Hexenblood Vessel (from Whom Is the Night, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

5. Mayhem - Freezing Moon (from De mysteriis dom Sathanas, 1994)

6. Falaise - Revelations of the Red Sword (from After All This Time, 2023)

7. Svartidaudi - Aureum Lux (from Revelations of the Red Sword, 2018) [Submitted by Daniel]

8. Psychonaut 4 - Tbilisian Tragedy (from Beautyfall, 2020)

9. Afsky - Tak for alt (from Om hundrede år, 2023)

10. Frozen Dawn - Cosmic Black Chaos (from The Decline of the Enlightened Gods, 2023)

11. Panopticon - Into the North Woods (from Autumn Eternal, 2015) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Mgła - Exercises in Futility V (from Exercises in Futility, 2015)

13. Downfall of Gaia - Optograms of Disgust (from Silhouettes of Disgust, 2023)

14. Cerberus - Kingdom of Emptiness (from My Prophecy Will Come, 2022) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Moonsorrow - (from Tulimyrsky EP, 2008)

Zarathustra - In Hora Mortis (2006)

Zarathustra are unfamiliar to me and, judging by the lack of a single rating for any of their albums, to everyone else here on Metal Academy. Well, they are a German black metal band who formed in 1996, releasing three albums between 2000 and 2006, In Hora Mortis being the last one to date. The band still officially exist, albeit having been on hold for a while and drummer Mersus, who was skinsman for Deströyer 666 for a decade, is the only original member still in the band.

My first playthrough was whilst out dog-walking during an early spring snow flurry and In Hora Mortis made for a very apt companion on that trip as it has a frostbitten edge to it that was very much enhanced by the billowing white stuff falling from those Northern Skies. Zarathustra play quite fundamental second-wave black metal and fans of bands like Immortal should feel right at home with In Hora Mortis. Most of the tracks are medium paced with occasional blasting sections, similarly to Immortal, and they have enough melody to them to make each track memorable in it's own right and to stop the album sounding samey and forgettable. Producing actual "songs" seems to have gone out of fashion a bit in black metal circles, but rather, a huge amount of bands strive to produce "pieces" that lean heavily on dissonance and avant-garde stylings, Zarathustra, however, most definitely do not fall into that category, they still understand the benefits of a well-crafted song that can be recalled after the disc has finished playing and that makes the listener want to bang their head and pummell the air with their fists! They have crafted some fine black metal riffs here with some tasty lead work, the rhythm section is strong, Mersus providing a decent approximation of an artillery battery on overdrive with his skinwork. Vocalist Hurricane (Dennis Freiberger) has an abrasive harsh bark that suits the tracks very well and sounds suitably evil whilst still being clear enough to understand the lyrics. All the songs are strong, but there is a brace of tracks in the middle of the album, Salvation from Being and Crown of Creation that could blow the balls off a charging mammoth at forty paces!

I guess In Hora Mortis is one of those albums that often gets short shrift from a large percentage of metalheads simply for geing "generic", despite the fact that this is actually a very good slab of no-frills early second-wave worship. Personally I am very happy to have crossed path with this terrific chunk of horns-in-the-air, unpretentious black metal goodness and once more the review draft seems to have come up trumps for me. I will definitely be looking into these guys further.

(Strong)4/5

This sounds like an album I should check out. I would have drafted it if you didn't get in first.

Vorna - Sateet palata saavat (2019)

This is my first experience with Vorna and I must admit it has taken a bit of time to appreciate. While I don't think there's much in the way of actual folk metal on this release, I do feel the band's style of melodic black metal would be a comfortable fit for fans of that genre. Black metal riffs, while often present, are not always the focus here, and there's very little in the way of darkness or brutality on offer. The vocals are often clean, with an emphasis on melodicism, although the more traditional black metal vocals are certainly effective. None of this adds up to a sound that leans into my personal preferences and yet repeat listens have brought with them increased enjoyment. While many tracks have a section or two that rub me up the wrong way, they also contain some very rousing and at times beautiful moments. The back to back run of Maa martona makaa and Aalloista in the middle of the album is undoubtedly the high point of the album for me, showcasing the potential of the band, and the album overall is quite heavily weighted towards the second half (in other words, it's starts slowly before bringing things home strongly).

This is one of those albums that's well executed for what it is and it wouldn't surprise me at all to hear that it was someone's favourite release of 2019. For me it's an interesting yet inconsistent listen with high points that really hit home on an emotional level. I'll likely check out more of what the band have to offer at some point.

3.5 stars

I'm still figuring out what my best of lists really look like, but I do know that the below albums would definitely be in my top 10 for 1986, and probably in these positions.

1. Slayer - Reign in Blood

2. Metallica - Master of Puppets

3. Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time

4. Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

5. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?

6. Kreator - Pleasure to Kill

7. Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

As for the rest, I feel like Manilla Road's Deluge, Fate's Warning's Awaken the Guardian and Kreator's Flag of Hate might feature.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 22nd to the 29th of March, 2023.

1. Bereft (CA-USA) (FALLEN)

2. Moonless (FALLEN)

3. Earthen Grave (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

4. Arc of Ascent (FALLEN)

5. Faal (FALLEN)

6. Wizard Rifle (FALLEN)

7. Kontrust (GATEWAY)

8. Kabanos (GATEWAY, PIT)

9. Revo (GUARDIANS)

10. Pertness (GUARDIANS)

11. Sound Storm (GUARDIANS)

12. Earthcry (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

13. Lyriel (GUARDIANS, NORTH)

14. Sick (HORDE)

15. Thousand Leaves (HORDE)

16. Karnarium (HORDE)

17. King Parrot (HORDE, PIT)

18. Mantas (HORDE, PIT)

19. Absvrdist (HORDE)

20. Tithe (HORDE, NORTH)

21. Gargling (HORDE)

22. Wretched Fate (HORDE)

23. Outcast (HORDE, INFINITE, PIT)

24. Binah (HORDE)

25. Sectu (HORDE)

26. Diocletian / Weregoat (HORDE, NORTH)

27. Nowen (HORDE, PIT)

28. Bodyfarm (HORDE)

29. Abu Lahab (INFINITE, NORTH, SPHERE)

30. Ethereal Architect (INFINITE)

31. Status Minor (INFINITE)

32. The Omega Experiment (INFINITE)

33. Loincloth (INFINITE)

34. Breaking Orbit (INFINITE)

35. magnólia (NORTH)

36. Uškumgallu (NORTH)

37. Dark Sonority (NORTH)

38. Obscurcis Romancia (NORTH)

39. Chaosweaver (NORTH)

40. Bucovina (NORTH)

41. Satanic Bloodspraying (NORTH)

42. Rage nucléaire (NORTH)

43. Master of Cruelty (NORTH, PIT)

44. 4arm (PIT)

45. Vindicator (PIT)

46. Obey the Brave (REVOLUTION)

47. XweaponX / World of Pleasure (REVOLUTION)

48. Follow the White Rabbit (REVOLUTION)

49. Foreground Eclipse & Draw the Emotional (REVOLUTION)

50. Adestria (REVOLUTION)

51. Signal the Firing Squad (REVOLUTION)

That meant adding 22 Deep Purple releases between In Rock and Perfect Strangers, which Rexorcist suggesting should be considered metal.

To be clear, I don't plan to add extensive non-metal band discographies to the site, but if a regular member requests an album or two so they can add them to the Hall of Judgement, I'll happily fulfill the request.

If I ignore the podcast (which was almost entirely The Guardians), I'd say mine would be something like...

• 30% The North
• 25% The Horde
• 20% The Fallen
• 15% The Pit
• 5% The Infinite
• 5% The Sphere

I rarely listen to The Guardians and basically never listen to The Revolution or The Gateway. I see this as a fault, as I really don't know whether or not I actually like the genres in those clans. I have next to no experience with them.

I have a plan to correct this situation in the coming years.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 15th to the 21st of March, 2023.

1. Tombstoned (FALLEN)

2. Vagrond (FALLEN, INFINITE, NORTH)

3. Consciousness Removal Project (FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. The Graviators (FALLEN)

5. OAK (FALLEN)

6. Wo Fat / Egypt (FALLEN)

7. Midnight Odyssey / The Crevices Below / Tempestuous Fall (FALLEN, NORTH)

8. Void of Sleep (FALLEN, INFINITE)

9. Lord Mountain (FALLEN)

10. Obelyskkh (FALLEN)

11. Alice Longyu Gao (GATEWAY)

12. Undead Corporation (GATEWAY, HORDE, NORTH, REVOLUTION)

13. DIMLIM (GATEWAY)

14. Gangnam Park (GATEWAY)

15. Kamijo (GUARDIANS)

16. Evertale (GUARDIANS)

17. Arven (GUARDIANS)

18. Piah Mater (HORDE, INFINITE)

19. Tentacult (HORDE)

20. Astriferous (HORDE)

21. The Sound That Ends Creation (HORDE, INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

22. Cangaço (HORDE)

23. Scatorgy (HORDE)

24. Necrobutcher (HORDE)

25. Involuntary Convulsion (HORDE)

26. Ground (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

27. Euphoric Defilement (HORDE)

28. Pyrithion (HORDE)

29. Illuminati (HORDE)

30. Leper Colony (HORDE)

31. Sarah Longfield (INFINITE)

32. Felix Martin (INFINITE)

33. The Gabriel Construct (INFINITE)

34. Toehider (INFINITE)

35. Vangough (INFINITE)

36. Tellus Requiem (INFINITE)

37. Epysode (INFINITE)

38. Withem (INFINITE)

39. Fanebærer (NORTH)

40. Circle of Ouroborus / Cosmic Church (NORTH)

41. Situs Magus (NORTH)

42. Sodality (NORTH)

43. Combust (PIT)

44. Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals / Warbeast (PIT)

45. Exarsis (PIT)

46. Pest Control (PIT)

Strangely, neither "Like An Ever Flowing Stream" (3.5/5) or "Left Hand Path" (3.5/5) have ever struck me as being anything terribly special & I came into both in real time. If pushed I'd probably take "Like An Ever Flowing Stream" over "Left Hand Path" by a slim margin but I find "Clandestine" (4.5/5) to be miles ahead of both.

Totally agree with this.

I'll take the Fog of War album. An album with a cover that bad has got to be great, right guys? ....guys?

Over to you Vinny.

I still can't believe you first picked this. 

I must admit that I'm hoping you manage to get to it (totally fine if you don't though!). Call me intrigued.

Trepalium - Voodoo Moonshine (2014)

This is my first time listening to Trepalium and I have to say it's been interesting to say the least. I'd noticed the avant-garde metal tag applied to it, so expected something out of the ordinary, but I wasn't at all prepared for what I got. I don't know if this is representative of what this French band normally produce, but what we have here is a mix of funk, groove and... I don't know... swing? That description's not really doing it justice, so let me try again. Can you imagine The Muppets doing a metal cabaret based on the film Metropolis? No? Well, Voodoo Moonshine may just scratch an itch you never knew you had!

Once I came to grips with the style, I've spent quite a bit of time letting it sink in before making any sort of judgement. The result is that I do quite enjoy this EP. At only 23 minutes in length, it doesn't overstay it's welcome, and the six tracks on offer are reasonably consistent in quality. That said, there are certainly aspects that grate on me, and despite the release having a very unique sound, it doesn't compete with the genius songwriting and hilarity of Mr. Bungle's debut (which I consider a distant ancestor). Points for something different though, and I'm certainly glad I've danced with these wangas!

3.5 stars

Xibalba - Años en infierno (2020)

This is my first experience with U.S. band Xibalba. They appear to have been a metalcore outfit at one point, but this latest album is very much a death metal release with a couple of doom metal tracks tacked onto the end. As that description suggests, the album has a strange flow to it, having a heavy pummelling death metal approach for the most part, before changing gears entirely for the rest. I actually the enjoy the production, and when I focus on individual moving parts, Años en infierno seems to have all the ingredients to be a rewarding experience. The issue is really in the songwriting though, with all the chopping and changing resulting in several tracks that lack any sort of identity. It's a bit sad when the most memorable tracks are an instrumental, that admittedly has very cool tribal drumming throughout, and a lengthy doom metal track that's somewhat tarnished by sub-par clean vocal sections. I have a feeling these guys could do something that really hits home, but they haven't got their crafting sensibilities in order at this point.

3 stars

Steak Number Eight - The Hutch (2013)

I can't say I was too excited about picking this release in the March Review Draft for The Fallen, but I think that had more to do with the band's silly name than it being an atmospheric sludge metal album. I shouldn't have judged a book by it's cover, as I've ended up finding quite a lot to enjoy on the band's third full length. It's certainly on the lighter side of the subgenre, with many sections sitting just as comfortably in alternative metal territory than anything close to sludge, but it does contain enough heavy riffs to satisfy my personal preferences. I can't say I ever really get bored while listening to it, despite the 71 minute running time, and many of the tracks have strong identifying features and hooks that slide under your skin with ease. All this said, the album is certainly not without flaws. There's a simplicity in the vocals that often seems at odds with the neatly structured music, and while vocalist Brent Vanneste has a pleasant (mostly clean) style, he rarely moves beyond safe, unimaginative pastures. Still, I like The Hutch enough to be interested in checking out more form the band, who thankfully go by the more palatable name Stake these days. I'll give it a mildly generous 3.5 stars for keeping my interest for several listens. If you're interested in checking out what this is all about, the three track run of Photonic, Push/Pull and Pilgrimage of a Black Heart is, in my opinion, the strongest part of the album.

3.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 7th tot he 14th of March, 2023.

1. Full of Hell & Primitive Man (FALLEN)

2. Häxenzijrkell (FALLEN, NORTH)

3. Et Moriemur (FALLEN)

4. Primitive Man / Fister (FALLEN)

5. Krokodil (FALLEN, INFINITE)

6. Forlesen (FALLEN)

7. Sewer Fiend (FALLEN, HORDE)

8. Anatomy of Habit (FALLEN, INFINITE)

9. Cold Night for Alligators (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

10. King Yosef (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

11. Autumn's Dawn (GATEWAY, NORTH)

12. Capture (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

13. Graphic Nature (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

14. Menace (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

15. Kirk (GUARDIANS)

16. Cyntia (GUARDIANS)

17. Barbarian (GUARDIANS, PIT)

18. Night Mistress (GUARDIANS)

19. 4th Dimension (GUARDIANS)

20. Ascension (GUARDIANS) - requested by Rexorcist

21. Ancient Death (HORDE)

22. Ozigiri (HORDE)

23. Sacrocurse (HORDE, NORTH)

24. Majesties (HORDE)

25. Psychiatric Regurgitation (HORDE, NORTH)

26. Atomic Aggressor (HORDE)

27. Kever (HORDE)

28. Kataplexis (HORDE)

29. The World Is Quiet Here (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

30. Sundrowned (INFINITE, NORTH)

31. Red Handed Denial (INFINITE)

32. Psycrence (INFINITE)

33. Dioramic (INFINITE)

34. Stamina (INFINITE)

35. Aastraal (INFINITE, NORTH)

36. Miroist (INFINITE)

37. Funeralbloom (INFINITE, NORTH)

38. Trhä / Sëht (NORTH)

39. Shagor (NORTH)

40. Vicarivs Filii Dei (NORTH)

41. Nachtreich / Spectral Lore (NORTH)

42. Moloch (NORTH)

43. Walg (NORTH)

44. Qwälen (NORTH)

45. Erebus Enthroned (NORTH)

46. Frozen Dawn (NORTH)

47. Vampyric Winter (NORTH)

48. Section H8 (PIT)

49. Skaven (PIT)

50. WARSAWWASRAW (REVOLUTION)

51. Unleashing My Demons (REVOLUTION)

Somehow I failed to select a release for The North! I'll go with the Vorna album. Never heard them, and I don't mind a bit of melodic black metal. That said, I don't always get on with Finnish black metal. Time will tell!

Re-reading my recent comment, it might sound like I'm discouraging people from exploring outside their clans / comfort zones. That's not what I was intending. I was pointing out that the clan system allows people to do all the exploration they want, without necessarily having a direct impact on the Clan Ratings. That's one of the things that makes Metal Academy unique.

I realize the meat of this topic is all a year old, but I find it interesting. Back when I used RYM, metal charts tended to be considerably more biased towards those very same generic releases, to the point that people were complaining about it. At least what I remember is that whenever I played some new release I couldn't tell you what was so special about it more than half the time. Seems like people over corrected in the opposite direction. Not withstanding that people who use RYM are going to at least pretend to have a deeper understanding of music than your average joe.

That said, it does seem like whenever I pop in here, to check new feature releases, certain sub-genres will get reviews consisting of two paragraphs of writing that could be summarized as "don't care for this genre, 2/5". It doesn't really make me eager to join in on the discussion.

I agree with you that very little value can be taken from a review written by someone who was never going to like the album. Daniel and I have had this conversation many times, as he likes to delve into everything that metal has to offer, despite knowing that he'll hate a lot of it before he even listens. That is of course why I designed the clan system though and, in particular, the split between Release Rating and Clan Rating. In most cases, albums that are way out of your comfort zone will belong to a clan you're not part of, and so your scores will not have any impact on the Clan Rating for those albums. A quick look at the clans that a reviewer belongs to can also impact how much relevance the stance of the review should hold too.

I can imagine a future time when there are hundreds of active members using Metal Academy, and I think the value of the Clan Rating system will really shine through at that time.

Hi Ben, can you consider me for inclusion on this next month please?

Definitely!

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 23rd of February to the 6th of March, 2023.

1. Earth Moves (FALLEN, INFINITE)

2. Palehorse (FALLEN)

3. Hemelbestormer (FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. Nightslug (FALLEN)

5. Moon Coven (FALLEN)

6. Dunsmuir (FALLEN)

7. Slabdragger (FALLEN)

8. Bombus (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

9. Valborg (FALLEN, HORDE, INFINITE)

10. Shroud of the Heretic (FALLEN, HORDE)

11. Exgenesis (FALLEN)

12. Holy Serpent (FALLEN)

13. Sidus Atrum (FALLEN, NORTH)

14. Ascendia (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

15. Enbound (GUARDIANS)

16. Necromancing the Stone (GUARDIANS)

17. Blizzard Hunter (GUARDIANS)

18. Lord Fist (GUARDIANS)

19. Neupink (HORDE)

20. The Projects (HORDE)

21. Okazaki Fragments (HORDE)

22. Crepitation (HORDE)

23. Dendritic Arbor (HORDE, NORTH)

24. Must Kill (HORDE, PIT) - requested by Vinny

25. Carnosus (HORDE)

26. Neurogenic (HORDE)

27. Embryectomy (HORDE)

28. Thunderwar (HORDE, NORTH, PIT)

29. Xenomorphic Contamination (HORDE)

30. Brutally Deceased (HORDE)

31. The Wakedead Gathering (HORDE)

32. Oracles (HORDE)

33. Bode Preto (HORDE, NORTH)

34. Abhorrent Decimation (HORDE)

35. Unrest (HORDE)

36. Disgrace (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

37. Internal Devour (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

38. Nug (INFINITE)

39. Solip (INFINITE)

40. Nevoa (INFINITE, NORTH)

41. Vitalism (INFINITE)

42. Abnormal Thought Patterns (INFINITE)

43. Hemina (INFINITE)

44. A Sense of Gravity (INFINITE)

45. Sacrificio (NORTH, PIT)

46. Mortichnia (NORTH)

47. A Diadem of Dead Stars (NORTH)

48. Ill Omened (NORTH)

49. Erraunt (NORTH)

50. Akaitsuki (NORTH)

51. Cerberus (NORTH) - requested by Vinny

52. Liber Null (NORTH) - requested by Vinny

53. Firienholt (NORTH)

54. Antzaat (NORTH)

55. Astral Path (NORTH)

56. LVTHN (NORTH)

57. Deathcode Society (NORTH)

58. Baphomet's Blood (PIT)

As long as it's clearly stated, I'm not going to be pedantic about how or where. I understand that including the text in the image itself might be too intrusive. In the description if there is one, or as a directly associated comment etc. is fine.

Given how difficult it has been to attract a larger audience to the site (which I genuinely believe it deserves), I can't say I'd oppose anyone wanting to advertise its existence. That said, I'm very particular when it comes to the branding of Metal Academy. I worked with a fantastic artist in the Ukraine to get the exact feel and visual style that I wanted. So yes, feel free to use the logo and clan images, but I do need to ask that you include the following in fine print.

"This content is inspired by, yet not officially connected to, the Metal Academy website. Logo and clan images used with permission."

Please don't take this as me not being appreciative of any efforts you make to spread the word. It just feels like a good precedent to set.

I'm sure the genre is not for all metalheads, but I'm certainly attracted to it, if only as background music. Thanks for the recommendations, as I haven't delved into it as much as I probably should have. Just listening to Old Sorcery now.

I'll take the Trepalium EP. Never heard them before, so should be interesting.

I'm not sure we're going to hear from Xephyr this month. He did post that he was unlikely to be involved in the drafts, so let's push ahead.

You're up Sonny!

I'll go with Xibalba.

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...

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

1. Xephyr

2. Sonny

3. Vinny

4. Ben

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

Xephyr 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...

I didn't get a chance to write a proper review for Gorephilia this month. I will say that I enjoy it quite a bit though. It definitely has a lot of Morbid Angel while never quite being as good. I think a 4 star rating would be fitting.

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

1. Sonny

2. Ben

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

Sonny gets first pick...

March 2023

1. Nameless Mist - Plague (from Lifeless, 2023)

2. Profane Order - Seething (from One Nightmare Unto Another, 2023)

3. Grift - Den stora tystnaden (from Arvet, 2017) [Submitted by Vinny]

4. Imperium Dekadenz - Truth Under Stars (from Into Sorrow Evermore, 2023) [Submitted by Sonny]

5. Asunojokei - Footprints (from Island, 2022) [Submitted by Daniel]

6. Leviathan - A Veil is Lifted (from Scar Sighted, 2015) [Submitted by Daniel]

7. Ovnev - Oracles of the Eternal Wisdom (from Incalescence, 2017) [Submitted by Sonny]

8. Inherits the Void - Sullen Laments of the Wanderers (from The Impending Fall of the Stars, 2023)

9. Craft - The Silence Thereafter (from Terror Propaganda (Second Black Metal Attack), 2002) [Submitted by Vinny]

10. Gloosh - Songs to Leave (from Sylvan Coven, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]

11. Forgotten Tomb - Disheartenment (from Songs to Leave, 2002)

12. Paysage d'Hiver - Stimmen im Wald (from Im Wald, 2020)

13. Theophonos - Nightmare Visionary (from Nightmare Visions, 2023)

14. Varathron - Ouroboros Dweller (The Dweller of Barathrum) (from Patriarchs of Evil, 2018)

15. Gnaw Their Tongues - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (from I Speak the Truth, Yet With Every Word Uttered, Thousands Die, 2020) [Submitted by Vinny]

16. Dimmu Borgir - Blessings Upon the Throne of Tyranny (from Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, 2001)

17. White Ward - Leviathan (from False Light, 2022) [Submitted by Daniel]

I would suggest that we reduce our limit for The Fallen track nominations to 24 minutes each from next month Sonny.

Agreed. Let us go with that then going forward.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 17th to the 22nd of February, 2023.

1. Culpable (FALLEN,  INFINITE)

2. Avast (FALLEN, INFINITE, NORTH)

3. Nicole Dollanganger (FALLEN)

4. Toke (FALLEN)

5. Bees Made Honey in the Vein Tree (FALLEN)

6. Telepathy (FALLEN, INFINITE)

7. Gnaw (FALLEN)

8. Light of the Morning Star (FALLEN)

9. The Lord (FALLEN)

10. Sepulchral Curse (FALLEN, HORDE, NORTH)

11. Sunrot (FALLEN)

12. Kyotaro&Rikuo (GATEWAY)

13. Narrow Head (GATEWAY)

14. Night Viper (GUARDIANS)

15. Galderia (GUARDIANS)

16. Legionnaire (GUARDIANS)

17. Aldaria (GUARDIANS)

18. Unyielding Love (HORDE, NORTH)

19. The Heads Are Zeros (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

20. Aetherian (HORDE)

21. Vesicant (HORDE, NORTH)

22. The Arson Project (HORDE)

23. Nether (HORDE, PIT) - requested by Vinny

24. Mithridatum (HORDE, NORTH)

25. Implore (HORDE)

26. Redemptor (HORDE)

27. Ekpyrosis (HORDE)

28. Engulfed (HORDE)

29. Maggot Colony (HORDE)

30. Bizarrekult (INFINITE, NORTH)

31. A-Z (INFINITE)

32. The Great Discord (INFINITE)

33. Tetrafusion (INFINITE)

34. The Thirteenth Sun (INFINITE)

35. The Drowned God (INFINITE)

36. Trhä / Eliante (NORTH)

37. Starcave Nebula // Trhä (NORTH)

38. Maȟpíya Lúta (NORTH)

39. Urarv (NORTH)

40. Theophonos (NORTH)

41. Abduction (GBR) (NORTH)

42. Yovel (NORTH)

43. Celephaïs (NORTH)

44. Novae Militiae (NORTH)

45. Huszar (NORTH)

46. Runespell (NORTH)

47. Veter Daemonaz (NORTH)

48. Balfor (NORTH)

49. Cyanide Grenade (PIT) - requested by Vinny

50. Beastiality (PIT) - requested by Vinny

51. Exorcizphobia (PIT) - requested by Vinny

52. Trastorned (PIT) - requested by Vinny

53. Queensway (REVOLUTION)

54. 964 Pinocchio (REVOLUTION)

55. God Complex (REVOLUTION)

56. Buriedbutstillbreathing (REVOLUTION)

57. Guilt Trip (REVOLUTION)

58. Hollow Prophet (REVOLUTION)

All the best with preps and the exam Xephyr! There are always times when things like Metal Academy have to take a backseat. I've found that having a little break and focussing on other priorities for a while reinvigorates me on return.

Let me know if you want to skip drafts for a bit, or we'll just assume if we don't here from you for a day or two that you're not taking part.

Adding these now, but note that Hellbringer is already on the site.

I just noticed that yourself, Daniel and I all have the same 4 clans. If Sonny were to add a fourth clan, I wouldn't be surprised if he joined us.

I guess it's not surprising, given they're generally the four most extreme clans.

I've just noticed that I don't have the ability to recalculate cover ratings after changing someone's clan, so Vinny's ratings are not being applied to relevant Cover Clan Ratings. I'll have to reach out to my developer to fix that.

Welcome brother Vinny!  

Varathron - Patriarchs of Evil (2018)

My only previous experience with Greek band Varathron, prior to selecting Patriarchs of Evil for the latest North Review Draft, was their debut album His Majesty at the Swamp from 1993. I recall enjoying that release, but found it difficult to get past just how similar it was to the work of their countrymates Rotting Christ. It utilised the same palm muted riffing technique and had very similar melodic tones. It also had a similarly weak production, so it's not surprising that I gave the debuts from both bands the same score (3.5 stars).

When listening to the band's most recent effort (their sixth full length album), it quickly became apparent that the production is vastly improved. However, apart from this clean, modern sound, very little has changed in the 25 years since the aforementioned debut. If anything, I think this album sounds ever more like Rotting Christ than the band did previously, which is some effort. There are a few blastbeat sections, which I don't recall being present on the debut, but otherwise it utlises the same techniques and song structures that you'd expect from a Hellenic black metal band. I can't deny that the songwriting is decent, and the eight tracks have enough variety to them to keep me interested throughout. At the end of the day, this album brings nothing fresh or particularly creative, but it's solid and entertaining enough to get the same 3.5 star score.

If you want to check a couple of tracks out, I'd recommend Into the Absurd or the closing epic Ouroboros Dweller (The Dweller of Barathrum).

3.5 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 9th to the 16th of February, 2023.

1. The Canyon Observer (FALLEN)

2. The Great Machine (FALLEN)

3. Flummox (FALLEN, INFINITE)

4. Gaupa (FALLEN)

5. Disgusted Geist (FALLEN)

6. Dunbarrow (FALLEN)

7. Blade Killer (GUARDIANS)

8. Anette Olzon (GUARDIANS)

9. Facada (HORDE)

10. Soaked in Disillusion (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

11. Skulmagot (HORDE)

12. Estuarine (HORDE, INFINITE)

13. Bone Sickness (HORDE)

14. Dagger Lust (HORDE, NORTH)

15. Re-Buried (HORDE)

16. Thos Ælla (HORDE, NORTH, PIT)

17. Paleface (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

18. Dawn of Nil (HORDE, INFINITE)

19. Ossification (HORDE)

20. Heads for the Dead (HORDE)

21. Gutter Instinct (HORDE)

22. Feral (HORDE)

23. Cypecore (HORDE, PIT)

24. Yvyy (INFINITE, NORTH)

25. Narrenwind (INFINITE, NORTH)

26. Letters From the Colony (INFINITE)

27. Vorbid (INFINITE, PIT)

28. Aviations (INFINITE)

29. Agriculture (NORTH)

30. Curta'n Wall (NORTH)

31. Pagan (NORTH)

32. Turia / Vilkacis (NORTH)

33. My Purest Heart for You (NORTH)

34. Slave House (NORTH)

35. Thy Dying Light (NORTH)

36. Krukh (NORTH)

37. Blosse (NORTH)

38. Helfró (NORTH)

39. Flešš (NORTH)

40. Wothrosch (NORTH)

41. Nachash (NORTH)

42. Communion (NORTH, PIT)

43. Black Reaper (NORTH)

44. Ecloss (NORTH)

45. Integrity / Krieg (NORTH, REVOLUTION)

46. Höstblod (NORTH)

47. Délirant (NORTH)

48. Inquinamentum (NORTH)

49. Stigmata (USA) (PIT, REVOLUTION) - requested by Andi

50. EYES (REVOLUTION)

51. Ecostrike (REVOLUTION)

52. Old Wounds (REVOLUTION)

53. Trail of Lies (REVOLUTION)

54. Mattachine (REVOLUTION)

Ufomammut - Idolum (2008)

In recent years I've come to realise that my metal tastes are actually much broader than I thought. I've always been fairly clear cut when it comes to my likes and dislikes. I like death metal, but I don't like grindcore. I like doom metal, but I don't like stoner metal. etc. It's for this reason that I limit my searches when looking to discover new music to those genres / subgenres that sit in the like category, while disregarding the rest. I've always had sludge metal isolated into the dislikes column, but having challenged myself in the past couple of years to check out some of what the genre has to offer, I'm pretty sure I categorised as a dislike without really having any awareness of what it is. Last year's Mizmor & Thou collaboration along with Primitive's Insurmountable already had me questioning my loyalties, but if this Ufomammut album is a pure sludge metal, then sign me up to the sludge metal fan club. I'm all in!

With the exception of the drums, which have powerful clarity, the instrumentation and vocals on this release are fuzzy and sometimes distant. It's not always clear whether your hearing the bass or the guitars, as they often merge together into a wall of heavy haze. The male vocals feel like they're behind the music, or at least coming from within it, making them feel more like just another instrument than something deserving of your main focus. Even the female samples that pop up in the majority of tracks struggle to overcome the surrounding noise. Rather than being a negative though, these production choices add an immense amount of atmosphere, and make Idolum incredibly effective at what it does. There are some brilliant moments on this album. As an example, Nero's tribal drum patterns combined with psychedelic drenched doom riffs is downright amazing, but when there's a woman's voice coming through the mire, instructing me to look into her eyes and to come closer, I have little choice but to give into it / her. Stigma and Ammonia are other big highlights for me, and if it wasn't for the 27 minute closer Void / Elephantom, which isn't terrible but definitely tests my patience with it's lengthy droning centre, I'd definitely be giving this 4.5 stars.

4 stars

Yep, I'll go with...

• Colosseum - Passage to Eternity off Chapter 3: Parasomnia (2011)
• Ufomammut - Ammonia off Idolum (2008)

Thanks Sonny!

I knew this would be somewhat divisive, but I must admit that I'm surprised by the complete lack of connection this album appears to have made with others here. I don't want to get all defensive about an album I love, as I encourage everyone to form their own opinions, but will simply state that I think Nardi's vocals are fantastic. I think this might be a similar case to Nevermore, with some fans finding them unlistenable due to Warrell Dane's approach, while others (myself included) find them to be utterly compelling, taking the listening experience to greater heights.

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 26th of January to the 8th of February, 2023.

1. El Altar del Holocausto (FALLEN, INFINITE)

2. Rainbow Grave (FALLEN)

3. Bellrope (FALLEN)

4. Tribunal (FALLEN)

5. Abyssic (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

6. Absence of Mine (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

7. Tardigrade Inferno (GATEWAY, INFINITE)

8. Blood Youth (GATEWAY, REVOLUTION)

9. Rob Halford (GUARDIANS)

10. Sweet Oblivion (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

11. Xaon (GUARDIANS, HORDE, INFINITE)

12. Tanagra (GUARDIANS, INFINITE)

13. Deterioration (HORDE)

14. Excruciation / Cystgurgle / Cardiomyopathy / Cancrum Oris (HORDE)

15. Harsh Realm (HORDE)

16. Blame God (HORDE, REVOLUTION)

17. Impure (HORDE, NORTH)

18. Essence of Datum (HORDE, INFINITE)

19. Those Darn Gnomes (HORDE, INFINITE)

20. Cutiepies, The (HORDE)

21. Nothingness (HORDE)

22. Gosudar / Malignant Altar (HORDE)

23. Esophageal (HORDE)

24. Cult of Extinction (HORDE, NORTH)

25. Skullcrush (HORDE)

26. Conjureth (HORDE)

27. Ezra Varier (INFINITE, NORTH)

28. Umpfel (INFINITE)

29. Popiół (INFINITE, NORTH)

30. Alkuharmonian Kantaja (INFINITE, NORTH)

31. Vintersea (INFINITE)

32. Thenighttimeproject (INFINITE)

33. Kosatka (INFINITE)

34. Ghost Iris (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

35. Fractalize (INFINITE)

36. Edge of Reality (INFINITE)

37. Ænimus (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

38. The Gauntlet (NORTH)

39. CHRISTWVRKS (NORTH, SPHERE)

40. Pénitence onirique (NORTH)

41. Falaise (NORTH)

42. Tomhet (NORTH)

43. Nyss (NORTH)

44. Kêres (NORTH)

45. Kringa (NORTH)

46. Sanguine Eagle (NORTH)

47. Høstsol (NORTH)

48. Nostalghia (NORTH)

49. I Am the Night (NORTH)

50. Vyselnyk (NORTH)

51. Temple Koludra (NORTH)

52. Pharmakeia (NORTH)

53. Vaal (NORTH)

54. Der Rote Milan (NORTH)

55. AkanthaV

56. Inherits the Void (NORTH)

57. Lowest Creature (PIT)

58. Freighter (REVOLUTION)

59. OLAM (REVOLUTION)

60. Not Your Friends (REVOLUTION)

61. Gideon (REVOLUTION)

62. Pound (REVOLUTION)

63. Shrine of Malice (REVOLUTION)

64. Gravemind (REVOLUTION)

65. Deviloof (REVOLUTION)

Sorry for the delayed pick here. I thought I'd already done it for some reason.

I'll go with the Varathron album, as I've not heard it previously.

Hmmm... all six albums are from the 2000s, which is strange for this 80s / 90s dominated clan.

I'll pick the Agent Steel album. I quite enjoyed their first two albums.

Over to you Sonny...