Ben's Forum Replies

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...

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...

Just realised I never posted my Whiplash review here...

Whiplash - Insult to Injury (1989)

The Metal Academy Review Drafts are certainly making me check out releases that I probably never would have otherwise. As much as I enjoyed Whiplash's debut album Power and Pain from 1986, I'd never considered delving any further into their discography. Having now spent some time with their third release, Insult to Injury, I don't think I've missed out on all that much, but that's not to say that there's no enjoyment to be had. By this point the band had taken a significant step away from the Exodus-like aggression of the debut and moved into more Judas Priest style heavy metal. In fact, there's so much heavy metal on this album that I don't think it would sound out of place in The Guardians. I think this transition is a bit problematic for the band though. When you can no longer hide behind thrashing intensity, songwriting ability becomes far more important, and unfortunately Insult to Injury is a bit hit and miss on that front. For every good track, such as the title track and highlight Essence of Evil, there's a less memorable effort, such as Hiroshima and the appropriately titled Rape of the Mind. In the end this is a decent listen for anyone that enjoys bands that straddle the heavy / thrash line (such as Metal Church), but it's an album I likely won't go back to very often.

3 stars

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)...

Sonny gets first pick this month...

Will anyone be brave enough to pick the Gnaw Their Tongues album!?

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)...

Since it's my first pick, I'll go for...hmmm...I'm really torn between Gorephilia and Corpsessed. The multiple mentions of Morbid Angel in reviews of the Gorephilia album have convinced me to take that path.

Gorephilia - In the Eye of Nothing it is!

Over to you Vinny...

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

1. Ben

2. Sonny

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

Since I have first pick this month, I'm going to go with the Ufomammut album. It's a great opportunity for me to finally give this band a proper go. I note it's their highest ratest release too, which bodes well.

Over to you Sonny...

February 2023

1. Thy Darkened Shade - Noxious Witchery of the Titans (from Liber Lvcifer II: Mahapralaya, 2023)

2. Deafheaven - Tunnel Of Trees (from Roads To Judah, 2011) [Submitted by Daniel]

3. Leviathan - Within Thrall (from Scar Sighted, 2015) [Submitted by Sonny]

4. None - A World, Dead and Gray (from Life Has Gone On Long Enough, 2018)

5. Barshasketh - Ruin I (from Barshasketh, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

6. Summoning - Aamongandr (from Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame, 2001) [Submitted by Daniel]

7. Satanic Warmaster - Duke's Ride (Ride of the Spectral Hooves) (from Aamongandr, 2022)

8. Drudkh - Resurrectiónem Mortuórum (from All Belong to the Night, 2022) [Submitted by Sonny]

9. Decayed - Archdemon (from Resurrectiónem Mortuórum, 1996) [Submitted by Sonny]

10. Melechesh - Ghouls of Nineveh (from The Epigenesis, 2010)

11. Svartidaudi - Burning Worlds of Excrement (from Revelations of the Red Sword, 2018) [Submitted by Vinny]

12. Fellwarden - Sun of Ending (from Oathbearer, 2017) [Submitted by Vinny]

13. Hoplites - Ὁ τῶν δακρύων ψεῦδος (from Ψευδομένη, 2023)

14. …And Oceans - The Collector and His Construct (from As in Gardens, So in Tombs, 2023)

15. Gnaw Their Tongues - All the Dread Magnificence of Perversity (from All the Dread Magnificence of Perversity, 2009)

16. Nocte Obducta - Atme (from Nektar - Teil 2: Seen, Flüsse, Tagebücher, 2005)

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 19th to the 25th of January, 2023.

1. Faetooth (FALLEN, INFINITE)

2. Seep (FALLEN, HORDE)

3. Zakk Sabbath (FALLEN, GUARDIANS)

4. Wyatt E. (FALLEN,  INFINITE)

5. The Night Eternal (GUARDIANS)

6. Gonemage (HORDE, INFINITE, NORTH)

7. The Devouring Void (HORDE, NORTH)

8. Diploid (HORDE)

9. i love bees (HORDE)

10. Barn (HORDE)

11. Pneuma Hagion (HORDE)

12. Diabolic Oath (HORDE, NORTH)

13. Labor Intvs (HORDE, NORTH)

14. Azaab (HORDE)

15. Arsebreed (HORDE)

16. Exaugurate (HORDE)

17. Intellect Devourer (HORDE, PIT)

18. Prometheus (HORDE, NORTH)

19. Fornicus (HORDE, NORTH)

20. Livløs (HORDE)

21. Insect Inside (HORDE)

22. Issolei (INFINITE, NORTH)

23. Void Paradigm (INFINITE, NORTH)

24. Gargoyl (INFINITE)

25. Vexed (INFINITE, REVOLUTION)

26. Winterquilt (INFINITE, NORTH)

27. Interloper (INFINITE)

28. Sorry... (NORTH)

29. Sadness / For Her... (NORTH)

30. A Rose Dying in the Rain / Sadness (NORTH)

31. Belliciste (NORTH)

32. Sordide (NORTH)

33. Sznur (NORTH)

34. Odium Humani Generis (NORTH)

35. Limbs (NORTH, REVOLUTION)

36. Hajduk / NIMBIFER / Akantha / Sørgelig (NORTH)

37. Occult Burial (NORTH, PIT)

38. Folterkammer (NORTH)

39. Varmia (NORTH)

40. Szary Wilk (NORTH)

41. Wesenwille (NORTH)

42. Soulless (NORTH)

43. Void Prayer (NORTH)

44. Zmarłym (NORTH)

45. Vended (PIT, REVOLUTION)

46. Ingrown (REVOLUTION)

47. Distant (REVOLUTION)

I've rated all covers for 2022 Sphere releases now.

Colosseum - Chapter 3: Parasomnia (2011)

Funeral doom metal is not for everyone. I can fully appreciate that some metal fans would find it boring and monotonous. It's actually difficult to describe why I love it so much, but ever since I first heard Esoteric, Skepticism and Shape of Despair back in 2001, I've found it to be the metal subgenre that I connect with the most consistently. That said, even I have to give many funeral doom albums a few listens before they wrap their tendrils around me and drag me into their heavenly depths. Colosseum's third and final release, Chapter 3: Parasomnia, is a prime example of an album that needs to sit for a while before it can be fully appreciated. What first seems to be an overly long and simplistic album has many subtleties that only work their magic with time, at which point you find yourself wondering why you didn't appreciate them the first time. In particular, the band utilises synths and strings in a very unobtrusive way and it's possibly more effective for it, as the doomy metal aspects remain front and centre throughout. Anyone that enjoys the beautifully crushing sound of fellow Finnish doomsters Shape of Despair will no doubt find euphoric pockets here, but Colosseum don't quite reach the emotional heights of their countrymen. As much as I hate to say it, given he committed suicide prior to the album's release, I do feel that frontman Juhani Palomäki's deep vocals are not quite as strong as I'd like them to be. Even still, this is pretty close to a 4.5 star album for me. It may even get there with a few more spins.

4 stars

The following bands have been added to Metal Academy from the 17th to the 18th of January, 2023.

1. Knoll / Autolith (FALLEN, HORDE)

2. ÂGE ⱡ TOTAL (FALLEN)

3. Omega Lithium (FALLEN, SPHERE) - requested by Andi

4. Kabbalah (FALLEN)

5. Slope (GATEWAY)

6. Through Fire (GATEWAY) - requested by Andi

7. Mega Colossus (GUARDIANS)

8. The Devils of Loudun (GUARDIANS, HORDE)

9. Kakofonium (HORDE, INFINITE, NORTH)

10. Chloroma (HORDE)

11. Writhing Shadows (HORDE)

12. Deiquisitor (HORDE)

13. Putrescine (HORDE)

14. Undeciphered (HORDE)

15. Dyskinesia (HORDE)

16. Klexos (HORDE)

17. Hoplites (HORDE, NORTH)

18. Comforting (INFINITE)

19. Shy, Low (INFINITE)

20. Musashi (INFINITE) - requested by Morpheus Kitami

21. Troll Gnet El (NORTH) - requested by Morpheus Kitami

22. Savage Necromancy (NORTH)

23. Hexerei (NORTH)

24. Balmog (NORTH)

25. Kūka’ilimoku (NORTH)

26. Acheulean Forests / Trhä (NORTH)

27. Windfaerer (NORTH)

28. Gràb (NORTH)

29. Solipsism (NORTH)

30. Mossgiver (NORTH)

31. Nordgeist (NORTH)

32. Iravu (NORTH)

33. Askeregn (NORTH)

34. Perennial Isolation (NORTH)

Temple Nightside - The Hecatomb (2016)

Temple Nightside were completely unknown to me prior to picking The Hecatomb for this month's Horde Review Draft (apart from noting the great artwork on this album's cover while adding it to the site). I'm so very grateful for the introduction, as this is way up my alley. I'm most attracted to death metal when it's dark as fuck and sounds like it was created by demons in the bowels of hell. Well that's exactly what we have here! With a really organic sounding production (particularly the drums, which I love) and growled echoing vocals that feel like they're coming out of the music rather than being placed on top of it, I find myself reminded of the legendary disEMBOWELMENT, despite Temple Nightside leaning far more into the blasting death metal spectrum. If that comparison seems odd, given this is listed as a death / black metal album, I personally think it contains much more doom than black, and disEMBOWELMENT were one of the few death doom bands that actually contained legitimate death metal. The riffs on The Hecatomb are also incredibly dark and heavy, not to mention memorable and genuinely effective, making this album one of the finds of the year for me. The fact that Temple Nightside, like disEMBOWELMENT, hail from my home country, make it just a bit sadder that I haven't discovered them until now. It's exciting to see that they have three other albums and an EP to sink my teeth into.

4.5 stars