Daniel's Forum Replies

The new album from Swedish atmospheric black metal outfit Lustre which is due to be released on 24th April entitled "The Ashes Of Light".

The new album from Kiwi tech death masters Ulcerate entitled "Stare Into Death and Be Still" which is due for release on 24th April.

The new E.P. from Belgian brutal death metal outfit Aborted which will be released tomorrow.

The new album from Finnish psychedelic black metallers Oranssi Pazuzu entitled "Mestarin kynsi" which is being released tomorrow.

Relapse Records is proud to continue its Death: Non Analog - On Stage Series with the second installment, live in Chicago, IL 01-21-1988!

At a moment when the world has been forced to push pause on live music, Relapse Records and the DEATH estate have pulled together to launch a series of previously unreleased, career-spanning live concerts that touch upon all eras and lineups of the legendary band.

We at Relapse sincerely hope to see you all at a concert, festival, or a stage sooner than later. Until then, the label will release a new DEATH concert every other week across all digital platforms throughout the coming months to tide us all over.

The On Stage Series collection unearths various DEATH performances across the United States, Germany, Canada, Mexico, and more. Whether its an underground, old-school rager upon the release of Scream Bloody Gore in '87, or a tour-de-force in California circa '95 on the Symbolic tour, we hope you revisit DEATH with us and keep the spirit of Metal alive at this time! Released April 14, 2020.

The new album from French deathgrind outfit Benighted entitled "Obscene Repressed".

West Coast metal veterans Metal Church released "From The Vault" on April 10 via Rat Pak Records. This latest release is a special edition compilation album that features 14 previously unreleased songs from the Mike Howe era, including four newly recorded studio tracks including a redux of the band's fan favorite classic "Conductor", The remaining tracks are compiled from various recordings in the band's history and include five tracks from 2018's "Damned If You Do" recording sessions, three cover songs and two live tracks, "Agent Green" and "Anthem To The Estranged", which was recorded at the famous Club Citta, Kawasaki, Japan on the "Damned If You Do" world tour. Tracks 1 through 4 were mixed and mastered by Chris "The Wizard" Collier (KXM, WHITESNAKE, PRONG, KORN) and tracks 5 through 14 were mixed and mastered by Kurdt Vanderhoof.

Howe comments: "This album is for the fans and has some really cool unreleased tracks on it, I think METAL CHURCH fans everywhere will really enjoy it."

The new single from English progressive metal outfit Haken with their new album "Virus" due to be released on 5th June.

The new single from German atmospheric black metal outfit ColdWorld.

Ben, please add DBC (Canada).

Great review saxy. For the record, I've loved "The Number Of The Beast" since the late 80's but it's never quite managed to become a true classic for me personally. I don't think there's a genuinely weak track included but I also don't think that "Invaders" & "22, Acacia Avenue" are quite up to genuine classic status either. The real classics are the two big hits in "Run To The Hills" & the title track as well as the brilliant "Children Of The Damned". I have to admit that I've never rated "Hallowed Be Thy Name" quite as highly as most people seem to but it's still of a very high quality. Our feelings are somewhat aligned as my Maiden sweet spot is the trio of albums from 1984 through to 1988. Traditional heavy metal simply doesn't get any better than those records. 4/5

For anyone that's interested, you can find a comprehensive review of everything about the writing, recording & resulting release of "The Number Of The Beast" on episode ten of Metal Academy Podcast. See the link below:

http://metalacademy.libsyn.com/ep-010-iron-maiden-reckon-the-number-of-the-beast

Ultra raw Brazilian death metal from 1987. For fans of Sarcofago, Vulcano & the first couple of Sepultura releases.

Holocausto - "Campo de exterminio" (1987)

The debut album from this ultra-raw early death metal exponent from Brazil. The atmosphere & ideas are there but the execution is poor. For fans of Sarcofago, Vulcano & the first couple of Sepultura releases.

3/5

Converge - "You Fail Me" (2004)

Andi, are you across this one? If not then I suggest you get on it.

A spectacular mathcore bomb from Masschusetts, USA. Fans of Botch, Drowningman & The Dillinger Escape Plan should be all over this.

Fantastic mid-80's crossover thrash from Seattle, USA. Should appeal to fans of DRI, Municipal Waste & Cryptic Slaughter.

The Accused - 'More Fun Than An Open-Casket Funeral" (1987)

The sophomore album from these Seattle-based crossover thrashers. Not as strong as their debut from the previous year.

3/5

Or Venom's "Black Metal".... *waits anxiously to see if anyone will bite*

Ben, so you're saying that there's a band called Deathcore that don't... ya know...    ummmm....  play deathcore?

Pig Destroyer - "Natasha" E.P. (2008)

One of the most underrated releases I've ever come across. It's an absolutely classic of ambient sludge/doom metal in my opinion.

My adjusted list after revisiting Pig Destroyer's "Natasha" E.P. this morning:

1970: Black Sabbath – “Paranoid”

1971: Black Sabbath – “Master Of Reality”  

1972: Black Sabbath – “Vol 4”  

1973: Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”  

1974: Budgie – “In For The Kill”  

1975: Black Sabbath – “Sabotage”  

1976: Rainbow – “Rising”  

1977: Quartz – “Quartz”  

1978: Judas Priest – “Killing Machine”  

1979: Judas Priest – “Unleashed In The East”  

1980: Diamond Head – “Lightning To The Nations”  

1981: Motorhead – “No Sleep Till Hammersmith”  

1982: Ozzy Osbourne – “Speak Of The Devil”  

1983: Slayer – “Show No Mercy”  

1984: Metallica – “Ride The Lightning”  

1985: Exodus – “Bonded By Blood”  

1986: Slayer – “Reign In Blood”  

1987: Bathory – “Under The Sign Of The Black Mark”  

1988: Metallica – “…And Justice For All”  

1989: Morbid Angel – “Altars Of Madness”  

1990: Morbid Saint – “Spectrum Of Death”  

1991: Death – “Human”  

1992: Alice In Chains – “Dirt”  

1993: diSEMBOWELMENT – “Transcendence Into The Peripheral”  

1994: Darkthrone – “Transilvanian Hunger”  

1995: Suffocation – “Pierced From Within”  

1996: Burzum – “Filosofem”  

1997: Exodus – “Another Lesson In Violence”  

1998: ISIS – “The Mosquito Control” E.P.  

1999: Neurosis – “Times Of Grace”  

2000: Immolation – “Close To A World Below”  

2001: Green Carnation – “Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness”  

2002: ISIS – “Oceanic”  

2003: Boris – “Boris At Last -Feedbacker-“  

2004: ISIS – “Panopticon”  

2005: Deathspell Omega – “Kenose” E.P.  

2006: Celtic Frost – “Monotheist”  

2007: Wolves In The Throne Room – “Two Hunters”  

2008: Pig Destroyer - "Natasha” E.P.  

2009: Alice In Chains – “Black Gives Way To Blue”  

2010: Hate – “Erebos”  

2011: Esoteric – “Paragon Of Dissonance”  

2012: Gaza – “No Absolutes In Human Suffering”  

2013: Suffocation – “Pinnacle Of Bedlam”

My revised list after revisiting the Pig Destroyer E.P. today:

25. Deicide - "Deicide" (1990)

24. Obituary - "Cause Of Death" (1990)    

23. Suffocation - "Effigy Of The Forgotten" (1991)    

22. My Dying Bride - "Turn Loose The Swans" (1993)    

21. Morbid Angel - "Blessed Are The Sick" (1991)    

20. Metallica - "Master Of Puppets" (1986)    

19. Darkthrone - "Transilvanian Hunger" (1994)    

18. Carcass - "Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious" (1991)    

17. ISIS - "Panopticon" (2004)    

16. Neurosis - "Souls At Zero" (1992)   

15. Slayer - "South Of Heaven" (1988)    

14. Immolation - "Close To A World Below" (2000)    

13. Suffocation - "Pierced From Within" (1995)    

12. Boris - "Boris At Last -Feedbacker-" (2003)    

11. Alice In Chains - "Dirt" (1992)    

10. Death - "Human" (1991)    

09. Morbid Angel - "Altars Of Madness" (1989)    

08. Metallica - "...And Justice For All" (1988)    

07. diSEMBOWELMENT - "Transcendence Into The Peripheral" (1993)    

06. ISIS - "The Mosquito Control" E.P. (1998)    

05. Sunn O))) - "Black One" (2005)    

04. Pig Destroyer - "Natasha" E.P. (2008)

03. Deathspell Omega - "Kenose" E.P. (2005)

02. Burzum - "Filosofem" (1996)    

01. Slayer - "Reign In Blood" (1986)

Sonny & Tymell, you guys simply MUST check this one out for elite quality ambient sludge/doom metal. Forget about their grindcore roots.

An utterly amazing 37 minute single-track ambient sludge/doom metal excursion from this Washington-based grindcore outift.

Absolutely killer Washington grindcore for fans of Napalm Death, Brutal Truth & Nails.

Pig Destroyer - "Terrifyer" (2004)

Some of the better US grindcore I've heard. For fans of Napalm Death, Brutal Truth & Nails.

4/5

Both are classy records. In fact, I bought them both on pre-order in 1995 which isn't something I can say for a lot of melodeath releases. But "Slaughter Of The Soul" is my all-time favourite melodeath record so it gets the goods here.

Well, to be accurate, they're actually not from the same genre but I'll bite nonetheless as both records were huge influences on my life given that they were both instrumental in helping me overcome the worst emotional trauma of my life. There's very little between the two but I tend to slightly favour "October Rust" these days due to the sheer quantity of classic tracks.

Mid-80's thrash metal from Maryland, USA. This particular track sounds a lot like early Megadeth.

Indestroy - "Indestroy" (1987)

The sole album from this Maryland-based thrash metal outfit. The dodgy production doesn't do it any favours but fans of Nuclear Assault, "Killing Is My Business"-era Megadeth & early Exodus may find some enjoyment here.

3/5

Hi Andi. Despite the fact that it sounds like a fun undertaking,  I'm a little confused by what you're proposing. So the four subgenres listed for your unofficial challenge are goth metal (The Fallen), nu metal (The Gateway), New Wave Of American Metal (The Revolution) & Swedish death metal (The Horde). How is this going to prove whether your tastes are more affiliated with The Fallen or The Guardians when there isn't a subgenre relating to The Guardians?

Wow! You didn't muck around with the Revolution challenge Andi. Some interesting reviews there that gave a good insight into your musical journey too. Well done!

Ben, please add Indestroy (USA).

Voivod - "Nothingface'" (1989)

Shezma, saxystephens & Xephyr, have you checked out this high quality piece of Canadian progressive rock before? I highly recommend you do.

Impressive & unique Canadian progressive rock for fans of Rush, Yes & Mr Bungle.

Voivod - "Nothingface" (1989)

Impressive & unique Canadian progressive rock for fans of Rush, Yes & Mr Bungle.

4/5

Ben, Tymell, Sonny & Vinny, I recommend that you all give this Belgian thrash metal record from 1987 a few spins. Very enjoyable stuff indeed.

Some absolutely stonking mid-80's Belgian thrash metal for fans of Deathrow, Metal Church & Flotsam & Jetsam.

Target - "Mission Executed" (1987)

High quality Belgian thrash metal for fans of Deathrow, Metal Church & Flotsam & Jetsam.

4/5

Personally, this is a pretty tight call. I've had a very long affiliation with both records & think they're both pretty great without regarding either amongst the elite releases in my life. Priest are the more metal of the two bands. In fact, I don't even regard "Rising" or any other Rainbow record as legitimate metal but that's not what we're debating here. The albums are about on par when it comes to highlight tracks but "Sad Wings Of Destiny" has 50% more tracks so "Rising" has the edge there. In saying that though, "Rising" has a couple of tracks in the middle that don't do anything for me while "Sad Wings Of Destiny" only has the one in "Epitaph". Hhhhhmmmmm…. I'm gonna go with "Rising" on this occasion due to the greater percentage of high quality tracks.

Rising 1 - Sad Wings Of Destiny 0

Look, I definitely understand what you're saying because I agree with you but "Consuming Impulse" would be in the top few most celebrated death metal albums of the 80's & was released in the same year as "Altars Of Madness" so it was as close as I could get. I do think it's unfair not to mention that Pestilence took the sound of Death's "Leprosy", added additional complexity & sophistication & presented it all with a thicker & heavier production though. It wasn't sending death metal careering to new heights in the same way that Morbid Angel were but it was still giving it a fair nudge forward. It's a great death metal record in its own right. Just not a genuinely classic one in my opinion. "Altars Of Madess" on the other hand is the best death metal album ever recorded. Every fucking track is a classic (with the possible exception of "Lord Of All Fevers & Plague" which was omitted on the vinyl version anyway).

Altars Of Madness 2 - Consuming Impulse 0

This one is fairly clear to me despite regarding both records as genuine classics. Layne Stayley is one of my all-time favourite singers & Jerry Cantrell's talent for writing ultra-sludgy Sabbath riffs & stunningly dark vocal harmonies is unparalleled. There are absolutely no weak tracks on "Dirt" & in fact most are 5/5 bombs. "Dirt" sits in my top ten metal albums ever released & I regard it as just about perfect. "Angel Dust" had a major impact on my life too but if I'm honest with myself I have to admit that a straighter edged, darker & more brooding band like AIC is simply closer to my sweet spot than the quirkier & more experimental FNM sound. I also slightly prefer "The Real Thing" as my go-to FNM album & I'm not much of a fan of the closing track "Midnight Cowboy". So it's "Dirt" by a clear margin for me.

Dirt 1 - Angel Dust 1

I find this one a very difficult proposition to be honest. Neither record have made a particularly big impression on my life despite the fact that I find them both to be pretty enjoyable. Witchfinder General have the advantage in the riffs department of course however they do sound like a poor man's Black Sabbath most of the time. I love the challenging early 70’s progressive & psychedelic rock elements in Pagan Altar's sound as well as the more epic feel. The more expansive musicianship (particularly the guitar work of Alan Jones) gives Pagan Altar an edge over the much sloppier Witchfinder General sound too but interestingly it's the repetitive vocals on "Pagan Altar" that I struggle with rather than Zeeb's on "Death Penalty". Terry Jones sometimes sounds like he’s just singing the same phrase over & over again.

I think "Death Penalty" is the more consistent record however it doesn't have quite as many highlights as "Pagan Altar". Some of the remaining Pagan Altar material lacks the hooks that "Death Penalty" has though & the songs sometimes have a tendency to go past without leaving much of an impression even though I generally like what I’m hearing. The doomier moments on "Pagan Altar" are amazing for the time but there really isn’t a song which fully harnesses that sound without diluting it with more bouncy up-tempo material which is a real shame in my opinion. So I'm gonna go with "Death Penalty" by the barest of margins. Mainly due to the Pagan Altar record finishing with a nearly nine minute track that I find to be a bit disappointing.

Death Penalty  1 - Pagan Altar 1

Congratulations Vinny. You've just submitted 100 quality reviews in absolutely fuck all time mate. That's HUUUUUUUGE!!

Ben, please add Target (Belgium).

You've saved me from making the recommendation I was planning for you Andi. :)

Why the hell include tracks like this on an album of this sort of quality:

A genuine classic of the gothic metal subgenre.