Daniel's Forum Threads

Just watched great wins by Detroit Pistons over the Phoenix Suns & Sydney Kings over the Brisbane Bullets from yesterday with both teams looking really good chances at premierships this season which was a great way to kick off my weekend. Was also privileged to watch Dave Warner & Steve Smith hit supreme centuries in the Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixes BBL T20 match last night. Smith's was off just 40 balls with nine sixes!!

The family & I just finished binging all seven series of "Younger" starring Hugh Jackman's new girlfriend Sutton Foster & Hilary Duff. I quite liked it for a short, mindless quaffer of a show & the missus absolutely loved it which is probably not surprising given it came from the same dude who created "Sex & the City".

Converge - "The Dusk in Us" (2017)

It's taken me far too long to get around to exploring the latest full-length from my favourite metalcore act but better late than never as Converge simply continue to deliver & have not by rested on their laurels either because "The Dusk in Us" sees them continuing to be highly creative, even though they were a full 27 years into their existence by this point. It's rare that one of our older legacy bands can summon this much punk rock fury when they want to too. I just don't think that Converge could release anything subpar if they tried given how skilled all of the individual band members are. Perhaps this isn't gonna challenge their elite releases at the very top of my pile (see "Bloodmoon: I" & "All We Love We Leave Behind") but it compares very favourably with the solid also-rans like "Axe to Fall", "You Fail Me", "When Forever Comes Crashing" & "Jane Doe" in my opinion, if perhaps sitting just a touch behind all of them.

For fans of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch & Every Time I Die.

4/5

It looks like Parannoul, under the name Mydreamfever, has graced us early this year with a new album: 4. Mountain Still Breathing.  But I have to say, while I always LIKED Parannoul and have given them a couple 9/10's, I feel they're a bit overhyped.  As well, I'm NOT getting into this one.  It's way too repetitve and relies too heavily on lo-fi aesthetics rather than the music itself, which is no different to me than oversaturating a pop album with production so polished it might as well be lemon-scented.

January 2026

1. The Anchoret – Someone Listening? (2023)

2. Black Crown Initiate – Holy Silence (2020)

3. Dark Horse White Horse – Judgement Day (2021)

4. Dvne – Descent of the Asheran (2017)

5. Edge of Reality – Wasteland (2016)

6. Ibaraki – Ronin (2022)

7. IONS – Faith (2023)

8. Jinjer – Fast Draw (2025) Requested by Andi

9. Luna’s Call – Signs (2020)

10. Mandroid Echostar – Matoax (2016)

11. Meshuggah – Bleed (2008) Requested by Andi

12. Myrath – The Funeral (2025)

13. Pain of Salvation – Undertow (2002)

14. Sons of Apollo – Goodbye Divinity (2020)

15. TesseracT – Of Matter – Retrospect (2013)

16. Vildhjarta – paaradiso (2021) Requested by Andi

17. VOLA – These Black Claws (2021) Requested by Andi

18. Wrythe – On Silent Wings (2008)

I got through all the feature releases this month (let's see how consistent that becomes throughout the year, eh?)

As stated in my review, Trivium is the most played given it's EP format seems so accessible and the music is great.  The best release for me on reflection is the Skepticism one though.

Not so hot on The Gateway or The Sphere features but they are largely hit or miss clans for me regardless.  My surprise fins was that In Mourning album which on paper would not be my bag but it proved to be a great listening experience.

Below screenshot from my spreadsheet as I have far too much time on my hands this month so far and yes, I have colour coded it!

Carcass - Reek of Putrification (1988)

Genres: Goregrind

In an earlier review for Carcass's second album, Symphony of Sickness, I mentioned that there was less of the melodic strength that made the third and fourth albums so beloved.  In this early goregrind release, as well as their debut, there's even less of that.  This is one of those somewhat common examples of early 80's metal albums compensating for lack of creativity with absolute brutality, the way earlier movies by Wes Craven were.  "Mature" content over substance.  Now the funny thing is, like Wes Craven, the band grew as their career progressed, so by the mid-90's this was basically nothing more than a historical example of how much they grew.  Despite a few cute tricks here and there, I predicted how the whole album would go after listening to Symphony of Sickness.  Now there may be some charm to have in the lo-fi production.  It's certainly a heavy piece.  But the production also muddles things that shouldn't be muddled, which cements yet another weak point in comparison to future works.  Basically, this overly "adult" album amounts to little more than an imitation album made by a bunch of children who think all it takes to be the best is to be different and "true to yourself" by "not giving into radio capitalism" or some shit like that.  Fortunately, this was the last time they ever sounded like this.  With 22 short tracks, they found a way to make a 37-minute album way too damn long.

52

Cancer - "Black Faith" (1995)

I picked up a CD copy of this much-maligned stylistic diversion at the time of release & felt considerable shock to find the English death metallers' signature sound had been completely dropped. "Black Faith" has generally been absolutely slammed ever since but those criticisms are totally unfounded in my opinion. Sure, the third-tier, meat-&-potatoes death metal of the band's early days is nowhere to be found here, having been replaced with a groove metal sound that incorporates thrash metal, alternative metal, industrial metal, progressive metal & even metalcore influences. But if you can separate yourself from your expectations for a few listens, you'll soon find that the quality of the metal on offer here isn't any weaker than records like "Death Shall Rise" or "The Sins of Mankind". In fact, I'd probably take "Black Faith" over the latter if I'm being completely honest. Don't expect anything terribly essential but this is certainly worth a listen, despite the inclusion of a dodgy cover version of Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'".

For fans of Pantera, Prong & post- "Arise" Sepultura.

3.5/5

Here's my updated Top Ten Groove Metal Releases of All Time list:

01. Coroner – “Grin” (1993)

02. Grip Inc. – “Nemesis” (1997)

03. Nevermore - "Dead Heart in a Dead World" (2000)

04. Gojira - "Magma" (2016)

05. Pantera – “Vulgar Display Of Power” (1992)

06. Pantera – “Cowboys From Hell” (1990)

07. Mnemic - "Mechanical Spin Phenomena" (2003)

08. Sepultura – “Chaos A.D.” (1993)

09. Pantera – “The Great Southern Trendkill” (1996)

10. Anthrax - "The Sound of White Noise" (1993)

https://metal.academy/lists/single/175

Zbigniew Preisner - "Trois couleurs: Blanc" soundtrack (1994)

The second film in the "Trois couleurs" series once again offers a beautiful classical score from Polish composer Zbigniew Priesner. It's perhaps even more stripped back & minimal than its more popular predecessor "Trois couleurs: Bleu" although, if pushed, I'd suggest that I slightly prefer this one. Neither are on the same level as Preisner's classic 1991 "La double vie de Véronique" though which remains my favourite of the Preisner work I've heard to date.

For fans of Arvo Pärt, Yann Tiersen & Michael Nyman.

4/5

Burzum - "Feeble Screams from Forests Unknown" (from "Burzum", 1992)

Ildjarn-Nidhogg - "I anmarsj gjennom grangrunn" (from "Svartfråd", 1996)

Thornium - "Emperor of the Carpathians" (from "Dominions of the Eclipse", 1995)

Malacath - "Eternal Roar of the Thunder and Rain" (from "Eternal Roar of the Thunder and Rain", 2025)

Thanks guys.

Eric Clapton - "Unplugged" (1992)

My father picked this live album up on cassette when I was 16 or 17 years old & played the absolute shit out of it in the car & around the house so it was interesting to discover just how well I know the songs this week. It was also interesting to find that, despite his imposing legacy as a guitarist, Clapton's smooth voice is the main source of appeal with this MTV unplugged session. There aren't all that many genuine highlight tracks but there are only a couple of duds amongst the fourteen tracks included too (see "Alberta" & "San Francisco Bay Blues") so I've come away feeling fairly positive overall. The acoustic rock of "Lonely Stranger" & the stripped back acoustic blues of "Walkin' Blues" are my clear picks of the bunch. It's quite a nice release but isn't something that I connect with enough to see me returning again in the future. I think it's a little too unintimidating & vanilla for that to be honest.

For fans of Joe Bonamassa, John Mayer & JJ Cale.

3.5/5

Mortician - "Hacked Up for Barbecue" (1996)

I'm a minor fan of the early 90's releases from New York's Mortician which led me to pick up their 1996 debut album through the tape trading scene as soon as it was released. "Hacked Up for Barbecue" sees the duo continuing on with the drum machine-driven sound they'd adopted for 1995's "House by the Cemetery" E.P. which upped the brutality on their early 7" singles (i.e. 1990's disappointing "Brutally Mutilated" & the entertaining "Mortal Massacre" from 1992) & gave Mortician more of a unique edge. The vocals of bass player Will Rahmer (Incantation) are ultra-deep & highly effective while his powerful & overly distorted bass sound combines beautifully with Roger J. Beaujard's (Malignancy) deep, down-tuned guitar tone to give Mortician a thick yet strangely accessible graveyard atmosphere that's complimented beautifully by the often unnerving horror movie samples. Most of the material from those early singles has been re-recorded for this release which is really quite long for such an extreme release at over 50 minutes in duration. I'd suggest that we'll be best served by utilizing a dual brutal death metal/goregrind tag here as it's hard to overlook the influence of early Carcass. I think this is a better record than Mortician's slightly more well-known sophomore album "Chainsaw Dismemberment" but there's not a lot in it. If pushed though, I think I still favour the "Mortal Massacre" single over both, however it's worth noting that these releases are all more fun than they are essential if I'm being completely honest.

For fans of Fluids, Torsofuck & Impetigo.

3.5/5

There’s some definite gothic metal touches in the new Ruins of Beverast.

There is, which is probably why I didn't take too well to my first listen through.

The one song that has gotten me into metal has been given a 20th anniversary revamp by ZP Theart together with Syndrone, Sophie Burrell, and Bradley Hall. It is quite epic, but I still prefer the original:

January 2026

1. 40 Below Summer – Letter to God (2000)

2. Blanket – Where the Light Takes Us (2021)

3. Deftones – 7 Words (1995)

4. deMOTIONAL – Ashes (2017)

5. Drowning Pool – Bodies (2001)

6. Fox Lake – Born 2 Lose (2021)

7. From Ashes to New – My Fight (2013)

8. G/Z/R – Man in a Suitcase (1997)

9. Gemini Syndrome – Die with Me (2021)

10. In This Moment – Sick Like Me (2014)

11. Katatonia – The Longest Year (2009)

12. Klone – Army of Me (2010)

13. lynch. – Idol (2020)

14. Money – Fuct (2022)

15. Nova Twins – Antagonist (2022)

16. SEGA Sound Team, Tomoya Ohtani, Kellin Quinn, Tyler Smyth – Find Your Flame (2022)

17. Shallow North Dakota – Odd (1995)

18. Siamese – Tomorrow Never Dies (2019)

19. Suicidal Tendencies – Panic (1997)

20. Thornhill – Obsession (2025)

21. Tom Morello – Voodoo Child (2020)

22. Tub Ring – I Could Never Fall in Love with You (2004)

23. Watcha – Sam III (2003)

24. We Came as Romans – The World I Used to Know (2015)

Delerium - "Morpheus" (1989)

The second full-length from these Canadians saw them returning with a slightly different sound to that of their classic 1988 debut album "Faces, Forms & Illusions" which represented my introduction to the duo & saw me falling for their wonderful mix of IDM & ambient music in no uncertain terms. "Morpheus" is more of a blend of electro-industrial, conventional industrial & dark ambient music with the former being the main protagonist. The tracklisting is less consistent than that of "Faces, Forms & Illusions" although there are just as many truly wonderful moments on offer. The deeper inclusions are where you'll find the true gems though with the dark ambient of the title track (my personal favourite) & closer "Fragment of Fear" & the high-quality electro-industrial of "Faith" & "Allurance" all qualifying as genuine classics in my world. Some of the less significant industrial material tends to feel a little more middling with "Coup de tat" failing to capture me at all. When viewed holistically though, "Morpheus" is another horribly overlooked & underrated early Delerium release that has left me walking away feeling both rewarded & satisfied. I've even bumped my score up by a half star from my initial rating from more than fifteen years ago now.

For fans of In Slaughter Natives, Guillaume David & Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross' "Watchmen, Vol. 2" soundtrack.

4/5

The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Miss Machine" (2004)

This was my first time with the New Jersey mathcore legends' sophomore album & I have to admit that I've found "Miss Machine" to be a bit of a step down from the other Dillinger material I'm familiar with. I think it's just lacking those couple of genuine classics to encourage me to reach for my higher ratings & the inclusion of the fairly weak & more accessible "Unretrofied" hasn't helped the situation either. The rest of the tracklisting is invariably engaging but the sound isn't that different to what we'd heard from them on "Calculating Infinity" so the material does tend to feel like a very talented band going through the motions at times. Still... who the fuck can play like this anyway!? It's pretty phenomenal that they can pull it all together amidst while attempting such chaotic song structures.

For fans of Converge, Botch & Car Bomb.

3.5/5

Also, coming tomorrow, January 9th is the brand new album from Ruins of Beverast, the first for 5 years, entitled Tempelschlaf. 

A couple of tracks are up for preview on Bandcamp:

https://theruinsofbeverast.bandcamp.com/album/tempelschlaf

This will be my last time posting in the Track of the Day and Stinkers threads. As much as I enjoyed sharing the highlights of the albums I've reviewed and the bands I've discovered, I was getting burned out due to the lack of response over the years. With that, I'm going to end that habit with a slow bombastic epic that, funnily enough, is about the beginning of the universe, The Big Bang:

A progressive-ish metalcore/hardcore song with enough power and strength to be another one of the best in this album:

A relentless furious opening highlight of alt-metalcore:

The groove/metalcore sound of Sylosis' killer new single is practically like Lamb of God and Trivium combined:

Let Me Dream - "My Dear Succubus" (1995)

This relatively unknown debut album from obscure Finnish band Let Me Dream is one of the rare releases that I bought completely blind during the mid-90's. My purchase of the CD was based purely on a rapturous review I'd read in Terrorizer magazine which made this record sound like it would be right up my alley. I was sorely disappointed though as "My Dear Succubus" is generally pretty amateurish & lacking in any sort of class, despite possessing a noticeably underground cult vibe that would no doubt have pleased the purists out there. I'd describe Let Me Dream's sound as being blackened gothic doom metal which isn't a description you see too often & they admittedly have a pretty original sound that's highlighted by the regular use of cheap synthesizers playing simply single-note accompaniments. My main issue is with the clean male vocals though as they are completely incompetent & take a great deal away from the blackened snarls that make up more of the run time. The instrumentation is very basic too although the guitar tone will no doubt draw comparisons to Celtic Frost's early works. At the end of the day there are metal releases that simply aren't worth exploring & this is definitely one of them. Where do I claim my hard-earned $30 back?

For fans of Cultus Sanguine, Moonspell & Celtic Frost.

2.5/5

Ashra - "New Age of Earth" (1977)

I picked up a CD copy of this debut album from Berlin-based progressive electronic act Ashra after discovering Manuel Göttsching's classic 1975 "Ash Ra Tempel VI: Inventions for Electric Guitar" debut album in the early 2000's & have always loved it since. Göttsching is once again the musical mastermind here with Ashra's sound sitting right in the middle between progressive electronic & space ambient. It's the ambient parts that are the most brilliant with the epic 22-minute closer "Nightdust" being one of the most significant space ambient works of all time in my opinion & single-handedly carrying the album to an elite score. "New Age of Earth" should be considered to be essential listening for fans of either subgenre.

For fans of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze & Steve Roach.

4.5/5

This attempt at their earlier heaviness becomes an ugly mess, making me feel like regurgitating:

Another impressive highlight, sounding fresh out of the Imprint sessions:

Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop (1973)

Genres: Prog Soul, Soul-Funk, Funk Rock, Psych Soul

So if that genre-tagging wasn't boner-inducing enough, we're dealing with Funkadelic in general.  This is during that understated period where the psych aspects of their rock side have transitioned to the soul side, allowing for a much more spiritual side to the band, one that remains as catchy and spirited as ever.  This is obviously the step forward into evolving into a p-funk band, one that bases itself on the raw trippiness of the psychedelic age.  Honestly, the third track, March to the Witch's Castle, relaxed every fiber of my body, putting my subconscious into a total state of euphoria.  It's a real shame that this side of the band wasn't explored very much during the late 70's, focusing mostly on the p-funk side we're familiar with on albums like Mothership Connection.  This is probably their most soulful album.

96

Dead Can Dance - "Garden of the Arcane Delights" E.P. (1984)

This four-song E.P. was recorded during the same sessions as Dead Can Dance's self-titled debut album from earlier in 1984 &, thankfully, the quality is just as good as the full-length although the E.P. represents somewhat of a transition release between the Melbournites' early gothic rock sound & their later darkwave one with two songs from each category included. "In Power We Entrust the Love Advocated" is an all-time favourite of mine & may be the peak for the entire goth rock genre actually. I used to play & sing it at parties back when I first met my wife. Closer "Flowers of the Sea" is a stunning example of Lisa Gerrard's otherworldly talents too. I can't tell you how much I adore this artist but, if pushed, I slightly favour "Dead Can Dance" over the E.P. which isn't the general consensus these days.

For fans of Lycia, Drab Majesty & Trance to the Sun.

4.5/5

In Flames - "Colony" (1999)

Another classic Swedish melodeath record & another release that I can't connect with. I wasn't a fan of widely praised albums like "Jester Race", "Whoracle" or "Clayman" so it's no real surprise that I've struggled with this revisit of In Flames' 1999 fourth full-length "Colony" either because it's pretty much on the same level as those three. If pushed I'd probably put "Whoracle" at the top of that list with "Jester Race" & "Colony" rounding out the top three. I have to admit that Anders Fridén's vocals are really good & so are the production & performances, particularly the guitar work of Björn Gelotte & Jesper Strömblad. The song-writing is just too accessible for me with those folky melodies not offering me much of substance though.

For fans of Dark Tranquillity, At The Gates & Soilwork.

3/5

A fantastic 8-minute closing epic of emotional power:

The perfect song for anyone up for a lot of aggression with some melody here and there:

Dream Theater - "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" (2002)

It's kinda strange that I hadn't given Dream Theater's sixth full-length studio album (a double album in fact) a run before now when you consider how highly I regarded Boston's progressive metal masters during the late 1990's but that's the way that things have fallen so I decided to fill that gap over the last few days. "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" is generally considered to be a solid release that fails to reach the lofty heights that Dream Theater had previously scaled yet does nothing to take anything away from their legacy either & I've found myself agreeing with that sentiment this week. These two records rarely see the quality dipping below an acceptable level with only the cheesy symphonic piece "i. Overture" failing to offer me any enjoyment. I will suggest that the tracklisting is fairly top heavy though as most of the gold can be found on the first disk with the lengthy title track being more mildly enjoyable than it is essential. "The Great Debate" is an absolute masterclass in progressive metal while the more stripped back balladry that takes place early on is also very impressive. Guitarist John Petrucci (my favourite guitarist ever) is once again the standout performer with his solos invariably seeing me picking my jaw up off the floor. In terms of the overall package, I think 2003's "Train of Thought" is of a similar standard to this release but neither come close to matching earlier classics like "When Dream and Day Unite", "Images & Words" or "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory". They do compare well with 1994's "Awake" though & I'd take any of those three over 2005's "Octavarium" which saw the band taking a further step down in my opinion.

For fans of Symphony X, Rush & Liquid Tension Experiment.

4/5

Two cool new industrial metal singles:

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the February Sphere playlist:

Blue Stahli - "Command Line Kill" (2:26) from Quartz (2020)

Circle of Dust - "Bed of Nails" (3:34) from Circle of Dust (1995)

D'espairsRay - "Grudge" (3:54) from Coll:Set (2005)

Mnemic - "Liquid" (4:41) from Mechanical Spin Phenomena (2003)

Sybreed - "Ethernity" (9:20) from Antares (2007)

Waltari - "Main Stream" (4:01) from Space Avenue (1997)

Total length: 27:56

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the February Revolution playlist:

Architects - "Gravedigger" (4:05) from Lost Forever // Lost Together (2014)

The Breathing Process - "We, the Drowned" (6:54) from Labyrinthian (2021)

Dead by April - "Infinity x Infinity" (3:10) from Let the World Know (2014)

Fit for a King - "Extinction" (2:12) from Lonely God (2025)

Ice Nine Kills - "The Laugh Track" (3:15) from The Laugh Track (2025)

Protest the Hero - "The Divine Suicide of K." (5:10) from Kezia (2005)

Shadow of Intent - "The Catacombs" (4:44) from Reclaimer (2017)

Total length: 29:30

Here are my submissions for the February Infinite playlist, having just two long epics in mind:

An Abstract Illusion - "The Sun Will Bleach All Bones" (16:38) from Atonement is Nigh (2014)

Fates Warning - "Epitaph" (11:57) from The Spectre Within (1985)

Total length: 28:35

Here are my sneak peek submissions for the February Guardians playlist:

Galneryus - "Hunting for Your Dream" (5:24) from Angel of Salvation (2012)

Helloween - "Future World" (4:02) from Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I (1987)

Iron Savior - "Until We Meet Again" (7:52) from Kill or Get Killed (2019)

Masterplan - "Masterplan" (5:03) from MK II (2007)

Turisas - "Rasputin" (3:53) from Rasputin (2007)

Total length: 26:14

January 2026

1. Archgoat - "Rats Pray God" (from "Worship the Eternal Darkness", 2021) [submitted by Sonny]

2. Watain - "Ecstasies in Night Infinite" (from "The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain", 2022) [submitted by Vinny]

3. Thou Art Lord - "The Era of Satan Rising" (from "Eosforos", 1994) [submitted by Karl]

4. Stworz - "U Śmierci na komornem" (from "U Śmierci na komornem", 2025) [submitted by Vinny]

5. Mayhem - "Despair" (from "Liturgy of Death", 2026) [submitted by Sonny]

6. Lord Belial - "Ipse Venit" (from "Unholy Trinity", 2025) [submitted by Karl]

7. Odium - "The Brightness of the Weeping Kingdom" (from "The Sad Realm of the Stars", 1998)

8. Martwa Aura - "Lament Drugi" (from "Lament", 2025) [submitted by Vinny]

9. Atomic Goatcrime - "Cycle of Wrath" (from "Thermonuclear Humanicide", 2025) [submitted by Karl]

10. Blasphamagoatachrist - "Cyanide Sacrament" (from "Bestial Abominator", 2025) [submitted by Karl]

11. Nexion - "Gandra" (from "Sundrung", 2025) [submitted by Vinny]

12. Enslaved - "Lightening" (from "Axioma Ethica Odini", 2010) [submitted by Sonny]

13. Apati - "Sömnlösa nätter" (from "Eufori", 2009)

14. Menhir - "Die Kelten" (from "Thuringia", 1999) [submitted by Karl]

15. Malakhim - "Solar Crucifixion" (from "And in Our Hearts the Devil Sings", 2025) [submitted by Vinny]

16. Vreid - "Fangegard" (from "I krig", 2007)

17. Naked Whipper - "Bloodstained White Icon" (from "Chapel Defilement", 2025) [submitted by Karl]

18. Imperial Crystalline Entombment - "White Behemoths of Woe" (from "Abominable Astral Summoning", 2025) [submitted by Karl]

19. Finsterforst - "Urquell" (from "...zum Tode hin", 2009)

20. Blut aus Nord - "Seclusion" (from "Ethereal Horizons", 2025) [submitted by Sonny]

21. Soulless - "As If Our Time Runs No Longer" (from "The Supreme Resurgence", 2023)

January 2026

1. Fear Factory - "Recode" from Aggression Continuum (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Dome Runner - "Biased Heart Replica" from World Panopticon (2025)

3. Kidneythieves - "Before I'm Dead" from Zerospace (2002)

4. 1914, Ship Her Son, Barney Hines Band - "Invaders Must Die" from Invaders Must Die (2025)

5. The Amenta - "Flesh is Heir" from Flesh is Heir (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Bad Omens - "Left for Good" from Left for Good (2025)

7. Nanowar of Steel, Mikael Sehlin - "Feet & Greet" from Feet & Greet (2025)

8. Fear of Domination - "Endgame" from Endgame (2025)

9. Die Krupps - "On Collision Course" from On Collision Course (2025)

10. Static-X - "Down" from Beneath... Between... Beyond... (2004)

11. Eisbrecher - "All We Are" from Schicksalsmelodien (2020)

12. Hanzel und Gretyl - "Fukken Uber Death Party" from 2012: Zwanzig Zwolf (2008)

13. 3TEETH - "The Fall" from Metawar (2019)

14. Silent Planet - "Under Your Skin" from Under Your Skin (2025)

15. Vibrion - "Aguanta" from Instinct (2002)

16. Neo Inferno 262 - "Sexes" from Pleonectic (2023)

17. Godflesh - "Streetcleaner" from Streetcleaner (1989) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. Lord of the Lost - "Bad Romance" from Weapons of Mass Seduction (2023)

19. Circle of Dust - "Deviate (1992)" from Brainchild (1994) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

20. Cyanotic - "Altered States of Consciousness" from Transhuman 2.0 (2007)

21. Vortech - "Posthumanism" from Posthumanism (2009)

22. Malmonde - "Machine" from Malmonde (2003)

23. Mechina - "The Collapse Promised to All" from Bellum Interruptum (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

24. Illidiance, Jot Maxi - "Hack the Hoax" from Hack the Hoax (2022)

25. Turmion Katilot - "Reset 7 (Not to Be Continued)" from Reset (2024)

26. Pain - "The Last Drops of My Life" from Pain (1997) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

January 2026

1. Demon Hunter - "My Place in the Dirt" from There Was a Light Here (2025)

2. Lamb of God - "Parasocial Christ" from Parasocial Christ (2025)

3. Dreamwake - "Daydream" from The Lost Years (2025)

4. Deadtide - "The Battle for New Earth" from The Battle for New Earth (2025)

5. Volumes - "Man on Fire" from Happier? (2021)

6. Zao - "Conflict" from Preface: Early Recordings 1995-1996 (2020) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. Varials - "Day 3: Revenge" from Scars for You to Remember (2022)

8. Enter Shikari - "Enter Shikari (demo)" from The Zone (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Ice Nine Kills - "Bloodbath & Beyond" from Every Trick in the Book (2015)

10. Skycamefalling - "Porcelain Heart Promises" from 10.21 (2000) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Shadow of Intent - "The Cosmic Inquisitor" from Primordial (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. Mental Cruelty, Signs of the Swarm - "Helheim" from Helheim (2025)

13. Lorna Shore - "Soulless Existence" from Pain Remains (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Asking Alexandria - "To the Stage" from Reckless & Relentless (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Equilibrium - "Nexus" from Equinox (2025)

16. As Blood Runs Black - "Ground Zero" from Ground Zero (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. Blessthefall - "Standing on the Ashes" from Hollow Bodies (2013)

18. As I Lay Dying - "If I Fall" from If I Fall (2025)

19. Elwood Stray, Our Mirage - "Error" from Error (2025)

20. Landmvrks, Novelists - "Heretic" from Deja Vu (2022)

21. Stray From the Path - "Fuck Them All to Hell" from Clockworked (2025)

22. Lionheart - "Salt the Earth" from Valley of Death II (2025)

23. Me and Him Call It Us - "A Rotten Set of Bagpipes Can Make a Fantastic Miniskirt If Sewn Properly" from The (C:) Drive of Love Stories (2004)

24. Paria - "Misanthropos" from Misanthropos (2004)

25. Coalesce - "My Love for Extremes" from Functioning on Impatience (1998)

26. Ion Dissonance - "She's Strychnine" from Solace (2005)

27. Emmure - "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong" from Goodbye to the Gallows (2007)

28. The Acacia Strain - "Eucharist II: BLOOD LOSS" from You Are Safe From God Here (2025)

29. Of Mice & Men - "Infinite" from Another Miracle (2025)

January 2026

1. Avantasia - "The Seven Angels" from The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 (2002)

2. Visions of Atlantis - "Pirates Will Return" from Pirates (2022) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Galneryus - "There's No Escape" from Vetelgyus (2014) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Judas Priest - "Winter" from Rocka Rolla (1974)

5. Motorhead - "Iron Horse / Born to Lose" from Motorhead (1977)

6. King Diamond - "Welcome Home" from Them (1988)

7. Y&T - "Mean Streak" from Mean Streak (1983)

8. Riot - "Warrior" from Rock City (1977)

9. Al Atkins - "Victim of Changes" from Reloaded (2017)

10. Saxon - "Madame Guillotine" from Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024)

11. Avenged Sevenfold - "Bat Country" from City of Evil (2005)

12. Metallica - "If Darkness Had a Son" from 72 Seasons (2023)

13. Black Sabbath - "Spiral Architect" from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

14. Almah - "Living and Drifting" from Motion (2011) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Warmen - "Into the Oblivion" from Unknown Soldier (2000)

16. Idol Throne - "Harbinger of Light" from Harbinger of Light (2025)

17. Powerwolf - "Out in the Fields" from Metallum Nostrum (2019) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. Iron Savior - "After the War" from Dark Assault (2001) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Rhapsody - "Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness" from Power of the Dragonflame (2002)

Here's my submission for the February Gateway playlist:

Slipknot - "Unsainted" (from We Are Not Your Kind, 2019)

January 2026

1. My Dying Bride – “Your River” (from “Turn Loose the Swans”, 1993) [submitted by dk]

2. Khemmis - "Bloodletting" (from "Desolation", 2018)

3. Sleep - "Marijuanaut's" (from "The Sciences", 2018) [submitted by Vinny]

4. Wren - "Scorched Hinds" (from "Black Rain Falls", 2025) [submitted by Vinny]

5. Chrch - "Portals" (from "Light Will Consume Us All", 2018) [submitted by Sonny]

6. Primitve Man - "Devotion" (from "Observance", 2025) [submitted by Vinny]

7. Paul Chain Violet Theatre - "17 Day" (from "Detaching From Satan", 1984) [submitted by Sonny]

8. Black Sheep Wall – “Ren” (from “Songs for the Enamel Queen”, 2021) [submitted by dk]

9. Heteropsy - "Memento Mori" (from "Embalming", 2025) [submitted by Vinny]

10. Age of Taurus – “Sinking City” (from “Desperate Souls of Tortured Times”, 2013) [submitted by dk]

11. The Answer Lies in the Black Void - "Sine Morbo" (from "Transcendental", 2025) [submitted by Vinny]

12. Salome - "White Tides" (from "Salome", 2008) [submitted by dk]

13. BlackLab - "Monochrome Rainbow" (from "In a Bizarre Dream", 2022)

14. Atavist - "Loss" (from "III: Absolution", 2020) [submitted by Sonny]

An experimental progressive black metal beast lurking in the shadows:

The only filler track you'll find in this otherwise solid folk-metalcore album:

Welcome to The North Rexorcist! I believe the transition has been successful (I can see that your ratings are now counting as Clan Ratings for The North), but let me know if anything looks weird.

Thanks a bunch!

Weird like what?

Like a North album or cover you've rated that isn't being included in the Clan Rating section. It should be all good, but I have had to run a recalculation a couple of times in the past when site users change or add a new clan.

Well I still haven't noticed anything weird like that.  But maybe I'm just not paying enough attention.

My books sold five copies today.  I find it hard to believe that actually happened.

Scott Kelly & The Road Home - "The Forgiven Ghost in Me" (2012)

The third solo album from Neurosis front man Kelly sees him collaborating with band mates Noah Landis, Jason Roeder & Josh Graham as well as guitarist Greg Dale which gives his very sparce & stripped-back music a little more weight. I really dig all three of Scott's records but I think this one is the best of them. Kelly's music can be a little monotonous at times but the added textures & colours contributed by The Road Home help to accentuate the song-writing a little here so I've really enjoyed this week's trip through Kelly's vulnerable storylines.

For fans of Steve Von Till, Wino & Townes Van Zandt.

4/5

Like you, I think that "Requiem" and "Octagon" are overly hated by fans who obviously preferred the more epic viking metal of the preceding few albums, but I actually prefer "Requiem" of the two. The antipathy for these two albums is obviously based on expectations versus reality..

I've just noticed that the Hall of Judgement entry for Black Sabbath's "Master of Reality" to be removed from The Guardians & remain solely in The Fallen is sitting at TEN votes with no clear outcome as yet too.

https://metal.academy/hall/515