Daniel's Forum Replies

Razor - "Malicious Intent" (1986)

An underrated thrashfest of a record that makes up for it's poor production (particularly the super-loud drums) with unbridled enthusiasm & energy. I actually prefer it to any of Razor's more celebrated earlier releases as it's thrashier style & more aggressive vocal delivery is better suited to my tastes. Sounds like "Haunting The Chapel" & "Hell Awaits" era Slayer & Dark Angel's "Darkness Descends" crossed with some dirty Venom & Motorhead style speed metal.

3.5/5

Scorpions - "Blackout" (1982)

I've never been the biggest Scorpions fan but I generally enjoy their classic material & this album is one of their more celebrated releases. Of course it definitely includes a few overly cheesy duds but the highlight tracks are very strong & the guitar solos are excellent. In fact, "Blackout" is my second favourite Scorpions studio album after 1978's "Taken By Force".

3.5/5

Ben, please add Order of Ennead (USA & Orpheus Omega (Australia).

Ben, please add October Falls (Finland).

Messiah - "Hymn To Abramelin" (1986)

An ultra-raw Swiss thrash debut that sits somewhere between their countrymen Hellhammer/Celtic Frost & the early Teutonic thrash & speed metal outfits like Kreator & Living Death. Extremely aggressive vocals that often border on black metal. The album is really carried by a few highlight tracks as the tracklisting is pretty inconsistent overall.

3.5/5

Ben, please add Nyseius (France).

Ben, please add Morbid Carnage (Hungary).

Ben, please add Martriden (USA).

Demilich - "Nespithe" (1993)

The only album from this seminal Finnish technical death metal outfit. This was quite a big record for me at the time of release. It still sounds entirely unique today too. Kinda like Gorguts' "Obscura" album crossed with Autopsy & early Carcass. If you're a tech death fan then this record is a must.

4/5

Sodom - "Obsessed By Cruelty" (1986)

I have to admit that I've never quite understood the appeal of Sodom's early works. I've always been down with the more evil, bestial form of European thrash metal but I'm afraid the inadequacies in the performances, composition & production are all just a little too much for me to overcome with this record.

3/5

Blood Red Throne - "Fit To Kill" (Release date: 13th September)

The ninth studio album from this Norwegian death metal outfit.

Kayo Dot - "Blasphemy" (Release date: 6th September)

The ninth studio album from these US post-metallers.

Sinner - "Santa muerte" (Release date: 13th September)

The nineteenth studio album from these long-time German heavy metallers.

Picture - "Wings" (Release date: 16th August)

The tenth studio album from these Dutch heavy metal stalwarts.

Boris - "Love" single (Release date: 15th August)

The new single taken from the legendary Japanese dronesters upcoming album "LφVE & EVφL".

Cough - "More Dead Than Live" (Release date: 9th August)

Limited edition vinyl-only live album from these US doom/sludge metal outfit. It was recorded during the closing series of their local venue Strange Matter. 

Kayo Dot - "Choirs Of The Eye" (2003)

An incredibly slick post-metal debut from this US outfit which sits amongst the best few examples of the subgenre overall.

4.5/5

Ben, please add Kruger (Switzerland).

Ben, please add Kerasphorus (USA) & Kronos (France).

Voivod - "Rrröööaaarrr" (1986)

Thrashy Canadian speed metal that should appeal to fans of Exciter, Venom & Motorhead. I think it's an underrated release even though I definitely prefer Voivod's "debut album "War & Pain & their "To The Death" demo tape over this one. The filthy production is the main problem but there can be no denying the quality of the song-writing & musicianship you'll find if you polish off the dirt a bit.

3.5/5

Welcome Vlgrim. We're delighted to have you onboard & from the looks of your ratings so far you're just the sort of member we're looking for. So don't be shy. The very concept of this website is about acceptance & celebration of the widely varying tastes & backgrounds that make up the global metal community so you won't be seeing any judgements floating around here. We encourage active participation & get excited about every new member & every fresh contribution.

Y&T - "Black Tiger" (1982)

The fourth album from this Californian heavy rock outfit is unfortunately a noticeable step down from its predecessor "Earthshaker" from the previous year. There's little doubt that "Black Tiger" is the more metal record but unfortunately there's a thick layer of 80's cheese coating a few of these songs & the high quality guitar solos & Sammy Hagar-eque vocal delivery aren't quite enough to warrant return listens.

3/5

Hirax - "Hate, Fear & Power" (1986)

The raw & intense second album from these Californian thrash metallers & it was a huge step up from their "Raging Violence" debut of the previous year. Eight tracks over just sixteen minutes with a strong thrashcore element that even includes the use of blast beats. This is a massively underrated release that should appeal to fans of Anthrax, Vio-lence & Steve Souza-era Exodus.

4/5

Ben, please add Jucifer (USA).

Ben, please add Istapp (Sweden).

Heaven - "Where Angels Fear To Tread" (1983)

Heavy rock from Sydney, Australia. This is some pretty decent stuff & should appeal to fans of Bon Scott-era AC/DC, Rose Tattoo & early 80's Saxon & Krokus.

3.5/5

Ufomammut - "XX" box set (Release date: 9th September)

This box set (released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this Italian stoner/sludge/doom trio) compiles their nine albums in one box offering numerous re-recorded bonus tracks, a special book, photos, lyrics, poster & backpatch. 

As I Lay Dying - "Shaped By Fire" single (Release date: 9th August)

The new single from this US melodic metalcore institution is the title track from their upcoming album which is due for release on 20th September.

Mgla - "Age of Excuse II" single (Release date: 3rd August)

The new single from the Polish black metallers upcoming album "Age Of Excuse".

Disillusion - "The Liberation" (Release date: 6th September)

The third album from this German progressive metal outfit.

Dorsal Atlântica - "Antes do fim" (1986)

Raw & intense underground thrash metal from Brazil in the vein of Slayer, Dark Angel & Violence with a little crossover stuff similar to early Slaughter. Makes up for some poor musicianship & production with unbridled enthusiasm & energy. I really dig it.

4/5

Ben, please add Imperium Dekadenz (Germany).

Ben, please add High Tension (Australia).

Ben, please add The Grotesquery (Sweden/USA).

Bolt Thrower - "Those Once Loyal" (2005)

The final album from one of the greats of the death metal subgenre. The general consensus seems to be that it's their best work but I've never thought it was quite as strong as their early 90's material. It's certainly a professional outing but the groovier riffs that pop up here & there don't appeal to me so much.

4/5

Korn - "The Nothing" (Release date: 13th September)

Ben, please add Living Death from Germany.

Bulldozer - "The Final Separation" (1986)

I didn't think much of these Italian thrashers 1985 debut album "The Day Of Wrath" & I struggle with this one for largely the same reasons although I favour it just slightly.

3/5

Tool - "Fear Inoculum" (Release date: 30th August)

Imperium Dekadenz - "When We Are Forgotten" (Release date: 30th August)

The new album from these German atmospheric black metallers.

Rage Against The Machine - "Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium" (2003)

The kings of rap metal. Presumably the last live show RATM ever played & despite a production job that doesn't really highlight the heaviness of the band, you can't really go wrong with this tracklisting if you're a fan of their studio albums.

3.5/5

Necronomicon - "Necronomicon" (1986)

German thrash metal ala Destruction & Sodom with a bit of a hardcore punk streak down the middle. Very average musicianship but a nice raw production & a dark atmosphere manage to overcome the obvious flaws i.e. the God-awful guitar solos, sloppy drumming & lack of structure in the song-writing.

3.5/5

Ben, please add Entrails Eradicated (Australia) & Fleshrot (England).

Ben, please add Dew-Scented from Germany.

More - "Blood & Thunder" (1982)

A seriously underrated hard rock record from the NWOBHM. This is better than their "Warhead" debut from the previous year. And how much does the singer sound like Chris Cornell from Soundgarden/Audioslave??

4/5

1349 - "Through Eyes Of Stone" single (Release date: 16th August)

Norwegian black metal.

At War - "Ordered To Kill" (1986)

Raw speed metal-infused thrash which brings to mind Slayer, Sodom, Razor & a little bit of Motorhead. Not bad at all.

3.5/5