Saxy S's Forum Replies

May 2026

1. 24-7 Spyz – Jungle Boogie (1989)

2. Amira Elfeky – Will You Love Me When I’m Dead (2025)

3. Avial – Chekele (2008)

4. Dayseeker – Pale Moonlight (2025)

5. Dead by April – Within My Heart (2011)

6. Die So Fluid – Storm (2010)

7. Fair to Midland – Dance of the Manatee (2007)

8. H-Blockx – The Power (2002)

9. Infected Rain – Orphan Soul (2017)

10. Infectious Grooves – Please Excuse This Funk Up (2000)

11. Ladybaby – Gotcha nippon! (2024)

12. Linea 77 – Moka (2001)

13. Lynch Mob – Into the Fire (1999)

14. Money – Motion Sick (2025)

15. Ocean Grove – Intimate Alien (2017)

16. Orange 9mm – When You Lie [2021 Remaster] (1999)

17. P.O.D. – Afraid to Die (2024)

18. Prong – Prove You Wrong (1991)

19. Sevendust – Risen (2018)

20. Shihad – I Only Said (1993)

21. Shinigami, Billy Martin – SACRiFiCE (2022)

22. Silverstein – Negative Space (2025)

23. SOiL – No More, No Less (1997)

24. Superheist – Liberate (2002)

25. Tub Ring – Bit the Wax Tadpole (2001)

26. Volumes, Black Sheeps Wall – Suffer On (2025)

Okay, so I've made it clear in the past that funeral doom is not my cup of tea when it comes to metal music. This style of music has a tendency to be overly self-indulgent and for its own sake. As much as I try, bands like Esoteric and Bell Witch have not resonated with me as much as I would hope. That said, like with my journey into extreme genres, there are some groups that can write wonderful music that still evokes the same crushing, sombre environment that is essential in funeral doom. Bands like Shape of Despair, Ahab, and recent entries by Red Moon Architect are stark reminders that this genre can be intense without losing the beauty of the moment.

Convocation's 2023 release No Dawn for the Caliginous Night is another great example of this. Part of being overly self-indulgent is having tracks that don't warrant long runtimes, but bands still extend tracks anyways. It is the exact same issue I have with so many progressive metal bands except going too far the other direction. The instrumental, "Between Aether and Land" has a soft swell that allows the listener to work their way into the cacophony that will later follow. The track is also only six minutes so as to not interfere with the albums intended highlights. "Graveless yet Dead" starts the album off right with a melodic lead, which lures the listener in, even as the themes of death and isolation are haunting, while not extending the runtime with unnecessary atmospheric breaks Then, when you least expect it, "Lepers and Derelicts" begins with this crushing guitar progression that just feels depressing (in a good way). The best description for this track is that you can literally feel the self-loathing oozing out of the speakers/body of the protagonist and their hope for redemption completely drowned away.

"Procession" is the closing track and all that remains is an empty husk of an individual. The track is reminiscent of an actual funeral march where melody can be heard, but is typically hidden away behind a wall-of-sound that continues to bring the listener despair. The clean spoken word evokes the emotionless void that the protagonist has developed over the previous five tracks. And when the track concludes, the death of our narrator comes with contempt knowing that their sins and transgressions will be forgotten, and the pain and suffering they brought to the world will be over.

All of this is presented with a beautiful mix. No Dawn for the Caliginous Night is a colossal album with a tremendous, bellowing low end that moves the album forward despite its best efforts to remain in perpetual limbo. The principal vocals of MNeuman are pronounced and very distinguished and echoes the same style heard on Ahab records, albeit even less guttural. The instrumental leads, whether it be the guitar (clean or distorted), the strings on "Graveless yet Dead", "Between Aether and Land" and "Procession" brings out a human aspect to the record; one that is beautiful beneath the haunting. And then the guest vocals that provide counterpoint to MNeuman are scattered throughout and have the same effect as the strings. Which is why "Lepers and Derelicts" is the albums most crushing song; it was always meant to be this way!

Funeral Doom is still a tough sell for me. But that's because I've been looking for it in the wrong places. I have to stop listening to the likes of Esoteric and Bell Witch to find funeral doom that resonates with me because I preemptively know that it will not. When bands take that classic death doom sound of My Dying Bride, Draconian, etc. and just make it slower, that's when my ears prop up. No Dawn for the Caliginous Night propped my ears up in the best way possible.

4.5/5

April 2026

1. Blood Vulture – An Embrace in the Flood (2025)

2. Chaoseum – Stick Under My Skin (2020)

3. Def Con Dos – A.M.V. – Agrupacion mujeres violentas (1996)

4. Dir en Grey – Umbrella (2002)

5. Disturbed – The Game (2000)

6. Enhancer – Hardcore Version Dancefloor (2000)

7. Full Devil Jacket – Where Did You Go (2000)

8. Glixen – Lick the Star (2025)

9. I See Stars – Calm Snow (2016)

10. Inactive Messiah – T.C.D.D. (2004)

11. Insolence – Poison Well (2001)

12. Issues – Rain (2019)

13. Karnivool – Shutterspeed (2005)

14. Memorrhage – Downstone (2024)

15. Oedipe – Gravites (2005)

16. The Old Dead Tree – Unpredictable (2024)

17. Projected – Watch it Burn (2012)

18. Smashed Into Pieces – Here to Stay (2013)

19. Switched – Inside (2002)

20. Tyler Smith, Andy Band – Infinite (2017)

21. Vanilla Ice – Too Cold (1998)

22. Waltari – Helsinki (2005)

23. We As Humans – We Fall Apart (2013)

24. Wednesday 13 – Keep Watching the Skies (2015)

25. While She Sleeps – To the Flowers (2024)

Avenged Sevenfold came out right around the time I was starting my metal journey and City of Evil got just popular enough to show up on MTV's Headbangers Ball back in the day. But anyone who has listened to A7X's discography knows that City of Evil is an outlier of sorts. This band has never stayed in one genre for too long and it has left people feeling rather cold on them through the years. After starting their career as a conventional melodic metalcore band, they ditched the sound nearly entirely for something closer to 1980s Iron Maiden.

It was certainly a choice, but it turned out quite well for the band since nearly all of the pieces were there; Jimmy Sullivan's strong presence behind the kit, Synyster Gates' phenomenal guitar arranging and soloing, and strong bass lines. M. Shadows' vocals are still a major turnoff of this band; not that they couldn't be superb if the genre was different, but when you set unreasonable expectations of trying to channel Bruce Dickinson, it's going to leave the whole experience feeling like a major disappointment.

However, that's not even the main reason why I cannot rate City of Evil any higher. We all love Powerslave here right? One thing that album never did was waste the listeners time. And yeah, City of Evil has some bangers, including "Blinded in Chains", "Bat County" and "Beast and the Harlot". But songs like "Sidewinder" "M.I.A." and especially "Strength of the World" are so obviously trying to be epic, but instead just waste the listeners time. Not every track on the record needed to have progressive metal filler moments and extended guitar noodling solos. A little trimming would have done wonders and, probably, made the remaining long epics live up to that title. Instead, City of Evil is a record that has its moments, but tries too hard to be progressive in a "scene" that does not need it.

3.5/5

Let's see how well I can do here. Since we're just doing one act per clan I would like suggest:

Gateway: Rage Against the Machine

Guardians: Judas Priest

Infinite: Dream Theater

Obviously, as Sonny already mentioned, Black Sabbath could easily be the nominee for the Guardians, but they are all around icons and could easily take a place in the Fallen as well with their first five records.

April 2026

1. An Abstract Illusion – Vakuum (2016)

2. Aghora – Existence (2000)

3. Ayreon – Everybody Dies (2017)

4. Between the Buried and Me – Lunar Wilderness (2011)

5. Changeling – Abyss (2025)

6. Circus Maximus – Abyss (2007)

7. Green Carnation – Sanguis (Blood Ties) (2026)

8. Ihlo – Mute (2025)

9. In Vain – Watch for me on the Mountain (2024)

10. Lattermath – Ember (2026)

11. Leprous – Acquired Taste (2011)

12. Lithium Dawn – Destroyer – 10th Anniversary Version (2022)

13. Omnerod – Spore (2023)

14. Scardust – Searing Echoes (2025)

15. Stream of Passion – Passion (2005)

16. Textures – At the Edge of Winter (2026)

17. Vulkan – Redemption Simulations (2020)

18. Witch Ripper – The Clock Queen (2026)

March 2026

1. Ad Infinitum – My Halo (2024)

2. Allele – Stitches (2013)

3. Brik – Fall (2000)

4. Carajo – El Error (2004)

5. Cradle of Thorns – Picture Perfect (1996)

6. Def Con Dos – Ultramenia (1996)

7. Emil Bulls – Here Comes the Fire (2009)

8. Entwine – End of Silence (2015)

9. Jane Air – Париж (2004)

10. Kilgore – Steamroller (1998)

11. Lacuna Coil – The House of Shame (2016)

12. Mark Morton – Cross Off (2019)

13. Mikau/Mattachine – Unlucky Channel (2023)

14. My Ruin – God is a Girl with a Butcher Knife (2013)

15. Novelists – Coda (2025)

16. Pop Evil – Torn to Pieces (2013)

17. Prophets of Rage – Prophets of Rage (2016)

18. Rishloo – Lovely Room (2004)

19. Sôber – Diez Años (2002)

20. Stone Sour – Bother (2002)

21. Vision of Disorder – From Bliss to Devastation (2001)

22. Volturian – Harley (2022)

23. Vower – Satellites (2025)

March 2026

1. Datura – Obsidian (2024)

2. Erra – i. The Many Names of God (2026)

3. Genghis Tron – Dream Weapon (2021)

4. Green Carnation – Under Eternal Stars (2000)

5. Hath – All That Was Promised (2022)

6. The Hirsch Effekt – Der Faden (2026)

7. Isis – So Did We (Remaster) (2004)

8. Jinjer – As I Boil Ice (2021)

9. Moon Tooth – Love at All Angels (2019)

10. Ne Obliviscaris – Xenoflux (2012)

11. Playgrounded – Our Fire (2022)

12. Peximents – Hidden Instigator (2024)

13. Slice the Cake – The Holy Mountain (2023 Remaster)

14. Star One – Lost Children of the Universe (2022)

15. Symphony X – Rediscovery (Part II) (2000)

16. Urne – Be Not Dismayed (2026)

February 2026

An Abstract Illusion – The Sun Will Bleach All Bones (2014)

 Artificial Language – Turn off the Pictures (2017)

 Dan Swanö – Uncreation (2026 Remaster)

 Danefae – P.S. Far er Dod (2025)

 Fates Warning – Epitaph (1985) Requested by Andi

 Ihlo – Wraith (2025)

 Ihsahn – The Promethean Spark (2024)

 Nawather – Daret Layyem (2016)

 Nospūn – …And Then There Was One (2023)

 Novena – Corazón (2020)

 Oceans of Slumber – The Impermanence of Fate (2024)

 Spirit Healer – The Slow Metronome of Sleep (2019)

 Thy Catafalque – A bolyongás ideje (2020)

 Wheel – Up the Chain (2019)

 Wilderun – Identifier (2022)

February 2026

1. 10 Years – From Birth to Burial (2015)

2. Amira Elfeky – Tonight (demo) (2024)

3. AqME – Le culte du rien (2009)

4. Berri Txarrak – Nortasuna Eraikitzen (1997)

5. Biohazard – Punishment (1992)

6. Body Count – My Way (1997)

7. Capture – Janina (2014)

8. Daniel Tompkins – Ruins (2020)

9. Ektomorf – Sunto Del Mulo (2000)

10. Elysion – Killing My Dreams (2012)

11. Evanescence – Call Me When Your Sober (2006)

12. Floater – Wondering (2010)

13. Imminence – Temptation (2021)

14. Love and Death – Paralyzed (2012)

15. Mokoma – Kurjen Laulu (1999)

16. MUCC – Waga arubeki basho (2003)

17. My Sister’s Machine – Empty Room (1993)

18. Nemophila – G.O.D. (2025)

19. Otep – The Lord Is My Weapon (2001)

20. Primer 55 – This Life (2001)

21. Slipknot – Unsainted (2019) Requested by Andi

22. Stellar Circuits – Skylights (2018)

23. Stoopi – Six Minutes (2002)

24. Super Junky Monkey – If (1996)

25. Tardigrade Inferno – Arrival of a Train (2023)

26. Woe, Is Me – Here’s To Me (A Story To Tell, Pt. 2) (2025)

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)

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)

December 2025

1. Avenged Sevenfold – Fermi Paradox (2016)

2. Baroness – Ray on Pinion (2007)

3. Car Bomb – Antipatterns (2019)

4. Conception – Roll the Fire (1993) Added by Andi

5. Cynic – The Space for This (2008)

6. Defecto – Eternal Descent (2025)

7. Fallujah – The Crystalline Veil (2025)

8. Gojira – The Art of Dying (2008)

9. Haken – The Strain (2020) (15)

10. Jinjer – Pausing Death (2019) Added by Andi

11. A Kew’s Tag - …To Reveal a Grieving Goddess (2021)

12. The Ocean – The Quite Observer (2015)

13. Ok Goodnight – The Snake (2023)

14. Samael – Black Matter Manifesto (2025)

15. Soen – Savia (2012)

16. TesseracT – War of Being (2023) Added by Andi

17. Vildhjarta - + Den spanska känslan + (2025) Added by Andi

18. Vulkan – This Visual Hex (2020)

November 2025

1. An Abstract Illusion – Like A Geyser Ever Erupting (2025)

2. Artificial Language – Skinwalker (2024)

3. Charlotte Wessels – Backup Plan (feat. Asger Mygind) (2025)

4. Dir En Grey – The Blossoming Beelzebub (2011) Requested by Andi

5. Dyssidia – Impulsivity (2025)

6. Ihlo – Parhelion (2019)

7. Leprous – The Price (2015)

8. Nevermore – Narcosynthesis (Live) (2008)

9. Skyharbor – Kaikoma (2014)

10. Symphony X – Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia) (2007) Requested by Andi

11. TesseracT – Of Matter – Proxy (2013) Requested by Andi

12. Textures – Polars (2004)

13. Vildhjarta – Traces (2011) Requested by Andi

14. VOLA – Head Mounted Sideways (2021)

15. X Japan – Art of Life (2012)

December 2025

1. Adema – Immortal (2002)

2. Age of Apocalypse – The Patriot (2022)

3. Alien Ant Farm – Everything she wAnts (2024)

4. Circus of Dead Squirrels – 8-Bit Piece of Shit (2004)

5. Dark New Day – Brother (2005)

6. Darke Complex – Grief (2015)

7. Ded – Hate Me (2017)

8. Devin Townsend – PowerNerd (2024)

9. Don Broco – Gumshield (2021)

10. Emil Bulls – The Jaws of Oblivion – Hellfire Version (2016)

11. Eths – Adonaï (2012)

12. He is Legend – Time to Stain (2014)

13. John 5 – Sugar Foot Rag (2004)

14. Katatonia – Forsaker (2009)

15. Loudmouth – Fly (1999)

16. No One Is Innocent – Nomenklatura (1997)

17. Northlane – Talking Heads (2019)

18. Rekiem – S (1997)

19. Scars of Life – Purity (2001)

20. Sepultura – Roots Bloody Roots (1996)

21. Skillet – Collide (2003) (Added by Andi)

22. Spoken – This Path (2000)

I don't think metalheads have gone anywhere.

Metal has always been music for outsiders and delinquents (not in a bad way obviously). Aren't a lot of the early metal albums heavily influential in the punk scene dominated by The Sex Pistols and Misfits during the mid/late 70s? It isn't that metal isn't popular, it just requires some deep exploration to find, unlike the milquetoast soft rock and pop music that gets tons of airplay. Where I live, we have at least four top 40 radio stations, which seems absurdly high.

And yeah they'll be crossover into the mainstream on occasion; using RIAA certification (which itself is a rather old technique) Back in Black has reported 50 million units sold since 1980. Both Metallica's self titled album and Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory are diamond certified in the US. Clearly, people are listening to metal when its marketed well.

Could it be that metal fans don't only listen to metal anymore? With a lot of metal music itself playing around with outside genres, and a few popular genres being more accessible in general, perhaps the average metal fan isn't as "metal or nothing" as they used to be?

Parroting off what Ben said, this idea that metal music has to be just Mayhem, Cannibal Corpse and Slayer is an old and tired. Old time jazz musicians like Wynton Marsalis are notorious for having declared everything released beyond 1965 as "not real jazz" because it incorporates fusion. At the end of the day, that fusion stuff is used by many to lure an audience in and then they can transition to more of the genre's roots. I like Bad Omens, but they are an outlier in my typical listening consisting of Opeth, Mastodon, Katatonia, and The Mars Volta. And even then, I feel the old man creeping out when I say that because all of those bands have been around since the 1990s and sound nothing like modern metal. This genre has evolved over time and Rick Beato is old enough to realize this. The fact that he doesn't proves his ignorance on the social aspect of a trend.

I'm sure in a decades time, there will be a new band like Sleep Token or Poppy that old timers will not stand, while young, impressionable teens will ooh and ahh over the hybrid of downtuned guitars, demon shrieks and glitchy electronic percussion. And it'll be up to us to either welcome them into the metal community or gatekeep them out.

November 2025

1. Ankor – Nana (2017)

2. The Barbarians of California – Bazooka (2024)

3. Cave In – Paranormal (2005) Requested by Andi

4. Chaoseum – Smile Again (2020)

5. Dealer – Red Teeth (2024)

6. Hamlet – Irracional (2003)

7. Infectious Grooves – Therapy (feat. Ozzy Osbourne) (1991)

8. Lacuna Coil – Reckless (2019)

9. Matenrou Opera – Alkaloid Showcase (2008)

10. Mushroomhead – The Heresy (2020)

11. Orgy – Beautiful Disgrace (2004)

12. A Pale Horse Named Death – When the World Becomes Undone (2019)

13. Paledusk – Savior (2015)

14. Phoxjaw – Triceratops (2018)

15. Primus – John the Fisherman (1990)

16. Sara – Vaeltaa (2025)

17. Staind – Confessions of the Fallen (2023) Requested by Vinny

18. Strata – Piece By Piece (2004)

19. Super Junky Monkey – R.P.G. (1996)

20. Unjust – Throwin Pennies (2004)

21. Wednesday 13 – I Love to Say Fuck (2019)

October 2025

1. Andromeda – In the Deepest of Waters (2001)

2. Between the Buried and Me – Psychomanteum (2025)

3. Conception – Parallel Minds (1993)

4. The Contortionist – Casualty (2012)

5. Feather Mountain – Sigil (2025)

6. Fellsilent – Drowned In My Enemy (2009)

7. In Vain – Watch for Me on the Mountain (2024)

8. Mendel – Be Gentle (2025)

9. Novembre – Everasia (2001)

10. Richard Henshall – Mu (2024)

11. Sithu Aye – The Andromedan, Pt. V: Rebirth (2016)

12. Snooze – A Mysterious Voice (2025)

13. Symphony X – The Odyssey (2002)

14. TesseracT – Juno (2018)

15. Threshold – Complex (2022)

16. Wheel – Hyperion (2021)

October 2025

1. Bone Crew – Back it Up (2018)

2. The Gazette – Blinding Hope (2021)

3. Gruntruck – Crucifunkin’ (1992)

4. Hebosagil – Tämä on nähty (2022)

5. Jerry Cantrell – Vilified (2024)

6. King 810 – Black Rifle (2019)

7. Korn – Somebody Someone (1999)

8. Mudvayne – Cultivate (2001)

9. My Sister’s Machine – I’m Sorry (1992)

10. Ramallah – Days of Revenge (2005)

11. Sevendust – Decay (2013)

12. Shovel – Spark (1997)

13. Siamese – Can’t Force the Love (2021)

14. Skindred – Under Attack (2015)

15. Skizoo – Nada Es Impossible (2022)

16. Slipknot – Iowa (2001)

17. SOiL – Unreal (2001)

18. Soilwork – Valleys of Gloam (2022)

19. Taproot – Poem (2002)

20. Twitching Tongues – I Fell from Grace Feet First (2023)

September 2025

1. Anacrusis – Release (1993)

2. The Anchoret – Forsaken (2023)

3. Baroness – Magnolia (2023)

4. Between the Buried and Me - Obfuscation (2009)

5. Caligula’s Horse – Song for No One (2017)

6. Destiny Potato – Lost Dream (2014)

7. Dissocia – Samsara (2025)

8. Fallujah – Kaleidoscopic Waves (2025)

9. Leprous – Painful Detour (2012)

10. Mastodon – Naked Burn (2004)

11. Mastodon - The Beast (2021)

12. The Ocean Collective – The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Locusts (2010)

13. Omnerod – Nothing Was Vain (2023)

14. The Reticent – Stage 2: The Captive (2020)

15. Slugdge – The Spectral Burrows (2018)

16. The Third and the Mortal – Silently I Surrender (2004)

17. Threshold – The Man Who Saw Through Time (2017)

18. Voivod – Meteor (1995)

19. Wheel – Movement (2021)

September 2025

1. 40 Below Summer – Rope (2002)

2. Bleed – Silver (2021)

3. Breaking Benjamin – Had Enough (2006)

4. Calva Louise – Lo Que Vale (2025)

5. Cojum Dip – Waltz in E-Major, Op. 15 “Moon Waltz (2019)

6. Coldrain – Paradise (Kill the Silence) (2022)

7. Demon Hunter – Sorrow Light the Way (2025)

8. Digital Summer – Counting the Hours (2010)

9. Fire From the Gods – Thousand Lifetimes (2022)

10. Gemini Syndrome – IDK (2021)

11. Hacktivist – (Rock) Superstar (2016)

12. Haji’s Kitchen – Sucker Punch (2001)

13. Ice Nine Kills – The Great Unknown (2025)

14. Linkin Park – Breaking the Habit (2003)

15. Mass Hysteria – Reprendre mes Esprits (2018)

16. Puya – Bembele (2009)

17. O’Funk’illo – En el campito (2001)

18. Ravenface – Colder (2018)

19. Self Deception – The Shift (2011)

20. Shortie – Let’s Kill the World (2001)

21. Stavesacre – Shiv (1997)

22. Twisted Method – Inside Out (2003)

23. Vexed – Anti-Fetish (2023)

August 2025

1. Adamantra – Hypocrites (2024)

2. Amiensus – Sólfariö (2024)

3. Avalanch – Alborada (2003)

4. Axioma – Divine Ruin (2024)

5. Big|Brave – Sound (2017)

6. Calva Louise – W.T.F. (2025)

7. Cynic – Sentiment (1993)

8. Deha – I Am Mine to Break (2019)

9. Mekong Delta – The Heroic Gate (1996)

10. Ocoai – Breatherman (2008)

11. Scale the Summit – Mass (2017)

12. Sea in the Sky – Dingus (2014)

13. Seventh Wonder – Tiara’s Song (Farewell Pt. 1) (2018)

14. Shylmagoghmar – I Am the Abyss (2014)

15. Slice the Cake – The Exile Pt. 2 (2023 Remaster)

16. Sons of a Wanted Man – Black Days Black Dust (2017)

17. Tomarum – Shallow Ecstasy (2025)

18. Waidelotte – Opulent Mirage (2024)

19. Watchtower – M-Theory Overture (2016)

July 2025

1. An Abstract Illusion – Abode of a God (2016)

2. Aghora – Atmas Heave (2006)

3. Altesia – A Liar’s Oath (2021)

4. The Anchoret – Buried (2023)

5. Arch/Matheos – Wrath of the Universe (2019)

6. Byzantine – Harbinger (2025)

7. David Maxim Micic – Daydreamers (2013)

8. Delta – The Humanest (2024)

9. Ephel Duath – The Passage (Pearl Grey) (2003)

10. Opeth – The Baying of the Hounds (2005)

11. Rivers of Nihil – Terrestria IV: Work (2021)

12. Source – Mandala (2023)

13. The 3rd and the Moral – Oceana (1994)

14. Votum – Spiral (2016)

15. Xerath – Machine Insurgency (2011)

August 2025

1. Alligatoah/Fred Durst – So Raus (2024)

2. Breaking Benjamin – Crawl (2009)

3. Burn Season – Any Harder (2011)

4. Code Orange – Grooming my Replacement

5. Dir En Grey – Ranunculus (2018)

6. Disturbed – The Vengeful One (2015)

7. Earthtone9 – Grind and Click (1999)

8. Falling in Reverse/Marilyn Manson – God is a Weapon (2025)

9. Fever 333 – Made An America (2018)

10. Gemini Syndrome – Stardust (2013)

11. House of Protection – Pulling Teeth (2024)

12. John 5 – Feisty Cadavers (2004)

13. Kitchen Knife Conspiracy – V8 Superpussy (2001)

14. Korn – Oildale (Leave Me Alone) (2010)

15. Limp Bizkit – My Generation (2000)

16. Machine Head – From This Day (1999)

17. Marty Feldman – Tornado of Souls (2008)

18. Memorrhage – Old Wave (2023)

19. Metallica – Frantic (2003)

20. Nonpoint – Chaos and Earthquakes (2018)

21. Raunchy – Nght Prty (2010)

22. Sinergia – Mujer Robusta (2015)

23. Sleep Token – Emergence (2025)

24. Slipknot – Duality (2004)

25. Staind – Lowest in Me (2023)

26. Tardigrade Inferno – Inferno Host (2016)

27. Waltari – Kill for Sport (2025)

Here's my submission for the September playlist:

Aara - Todesbiwak (2024)

Here's my submission for the September playlist:

Invicta - The Morning's Light (2023)

July 2025

1. 4lyn – Kisses of a Strobelight (2004)

2. Anthrax – Room for One More (1993)

3. Apocalyptica – Rage of Poseidon (2010)

4. Black Orchid Empire – Motorcade – Live (2021)

5. Chaoseum – Unreal (2022)

6. Darknet – gen: throwaway (2023)

7. Demon Hunter – I’m Done (2025)

8. Drowning Pool – Sinner (2001)

9. DVSR – Ready for War (2017)

10. Ektomorf – Nem Engedem (1998)

11. Five Finger Death Punch – Wrong Side of Heaven (2013)

12. (Hed) P.E. – Suck It Up (2003)

13. Limp Bizkit – Re-Arranged (1999)

14. My Ruin – Terror (2000)

15. Ninjaspy – Speak (2017)

16. Psychostick – Beer! (2003)

17. Pyrogenesis – I Have Seen My Soul (2017)

18. Serj Tankian – Harakiri (2012)

19. Soulfly – Seek ‘N’ Strike (2002)

20. Tad – Leafy Incline (1993)

21. Tardigrade Inferno – Fire, Plague and Locust (2023)

22. Thousand Foot Krutch – Let the Sparks Fly (2012)

23. UnityTX – Agony (2021)

24. VOLA – Cannibal (feat. Ander Friden) (2024)

June 2025

1. Alien Weaponry – Myself to Blame (2025)

2. Apocalyptica – Cold Blood (2015)

3. Disturbed – Sacred Lie (2005)

4. Elysion – Made of Lies (2014)

5. Gemini Syndrome – 2B1 (2025)

6. He Is Legend – Sand (2017)

7. Infectious Grooves – Please Excuse The Funk Up (2000)

8. Korn – Y’all Want a Single (2003)

9. Laundry – Ten Gates (1999)

10. Linkin Park – Papercut (2000)

11. MolyBaron - Lucifer (2021)

12. No One Is Innocent – La peau (1994)

13. Nonpoint – That Day (2012)

14. Polkadot Cadaver – Last Call in Jonestown (2013)

15. Poppy – EAT (2021)

16. Skinlab – Slave The Way (2002)

17. Soil – Breaking Me Down (2001)

18. Spiderbait – Shashavaglava (1993)

19. Stompbox – The Making of Pump (1994)

20. Tremonti – Just Too Much (2025)

21. Treyarch Sound (Elena Siegman, Kevin Sherwood – Beauty of Annihilation (2011)

22. Underoath – Outsider (2025)

June 2025

1. Allegaeon – Wake Circling Above (2025)

2. Calva Louise – Aimless (2025)

3. Changeling – Abdication (2025)

4. Fallujah – Labyrinth of Stone (2025)

5. Haken – Deathless (2011)

6. In Vain – Times of Yore (2013)

7. Intronaut – Cubensis (2020)

8. Mandroid Echostar – Haunted Vows (2013)

9. Ne Obliviscaris – Xenoflux (2012)

10. Nevermore – The Psalm of Lydia (2005)

11. A Notion of Silence – Journey’s End (2022)

12. The Ocean – Atlantic (2023)

13. Ovid’s Withering – Falsehood of Blasphemous Voices (2015)

14. Pain of Salvation – Beyond the Pale – remix (2016)

15. Protest the Hero – Reverie (2020) (29)

16. Syncatto – Hollow (2025)

17. Utopian Dream – Restriction of a Mind (2016)

18. Wheel – Empire (2024)

Red Moon Architect - October Decay 

https://redmoonarchitect.bandcamp.com/album/october-decay

My adventures into the world of Doom metal in the past several months have been fairly underwhelming in the first half of 2025. But I was very surprised when this record from a Finnish Death Doom/Funeral Doom band came across my recommended feed. And more so impressed by what was found inside! This is a wonderful sounding piece of heavy, oppressive doom metal. It isn't a record that wastes time, which is impressive considering the song lengths. The structure of the album deserves high praise, a record that starts off much more melodic and sweet, becomes more dense and brooding through its six songs. It uses the funeral doom tag as a point of growth and it works better for it.

FFO: Shape of Despair, early Swallow the Sun?

4/5

Could we add the new Red Moon Architect album October Decay?

Here's my song selection for June Sonny:

Groza - Dysthymian Dreams (From Nadir, 2024)

May 2025

1. A-Z – Nothing Is Over (2025)

2. Baroness – Rays On Pinion (2007)

3. Becoming the Archetype – Construct and Collapse (2007)

4. Cormorant – Unearthly Dreamings (2011)

5. Empyrean Sanctum – Heart of Gold (2025)

6. Fallujah – Artifacts (2022)

7. Gojira – The Link (2003)

8. Illusion Suite – The Iron Cemetery (2013)

9. In Vain – Where the Winds Meet (2024)

10. Into Eternity – Selling God (2002)

11. Oddland – Freefall (2025)

12. The Odious – Repugnant (2019)

13. Omnerod – Satellites (2023)

14. Others by No One – Where Stories Comes From (2021)

15. Panzerballet – Ode to Joy (feat. Andromeda Anarchia, Conny Kreitmeier & Marco Minnemann) (2025)

16. Rivers of Nihil – Water & Time (2025)

17. Teramaze – The Harmony Machine (2025)

18. Vildhjarta - + ? regnet, the ? + (2025)

19. Voivod – Into My Hypercube (1989)

20. Voyager – Seen Better Days (2025)

Here's my suggestions for the next playlist Andi:

Bleeding Through - Dead But So Alive (2025)

Shadow of Intent - Gravesinger (2019)

My submission for next month playlist Sonny:

In Vain - At the Going Down of the Sun (2024)

April 2025

1. Allegaeon – Driftwood (2025)

2. Apocalyptica – Aqua Genesis (2019)

3. Atypic – nanoSpace Disaster pt. 1 (2025)

4. Breaking Orbit – Orion (2012)

5. Chiasma – Reaches (2025)

6. Dessiderium – Pollen for the Bees – Pt. 2 (2025)

7. Disperse – Tomorrow (2017)

8. Fallujah – Levitation (2024)

9. Grace Hayhurst – The World is Dying (2025)

10. Into Eternity – Behind the Disguise (1999)

11. Meshuggah – Swarm (2012)

12. TesseracT – Of Reality – Palingenesis (2013)

13. Oppostie Earth – Visuals (1997)

14. Tiktaalika, Charlie Griffiths – Mesozoic Mantras (feat. Vladimir Lalic) (2025)

15. Vulkan – Bewildering Conception of Truth (2020)

16. Yakuza – Glory Hole (2006)

17. You Win Again Gravity – Heartwood (2025)

Here's my submission for the June playlist Vinny:

Skeletonwitch - Sacrifice for the Slaughtergod (2007)

April 2025

1. Ankor – Chop Suey! (2014)

2. Any Given Sin – Nearer Our God to Thee (2015)

3. Avenged Sevenfold – Afterlife (2007)

4. Black Orchid Empire – Deny the Sun (2023)

5. Bodyweb – bodyweb (2023)

6. Both Worlds – Hate Mantra (1998)

7. Doodseskader – I Ask With My Mouth, I’ll Take With My Fist (2024)

8. Essence – Untouchable (2015)

9. existtface – VANGUARD (2009)

10. Faith No More – Falling to Pieces (1989)

11. Floater – Mexican Bus (1998)

12. Inactive Messiah – Building Your God (2004)

13. Limp Bizkit – Shotgun (2011)

14. Metallica – Some Kind of Monster (2003)

15. Mucky Pup – Own Up for What You Say (1993)

16. Nothing More – Fade In/Fade Out (2017)

17. Slipknot – The Heretic Anthem (2001)

18. Stompbox – No Woods (1994)

19. TOOL – Jambi (2006)

20. TRUSTcompany – Close Your Eyes (‘til it’s over) (2011)

21. Utsu-P - 骸Attack!! (2009)

If you two don't mind, I can help with a couple of suggestions for the Fallen playlist. I'll only provide one suggestion for May, but if you have room for a couple of out-of-clan requests, let me know.

Anyways, here's my suggestion for the May playlist Sonny:

Deathwhite - Earthtomb (2022)

March 2025

1. Atheist – Air (1993)

2. Black Crown Initiate – Belle The Machine (2016)

3. Car Bomb – Gratitude (2016)

4. Fallujah – Sapphire (2024)

5. Haken – The Architect (feat. Einar Solberg) (2016)

6. Ihsahn – Celestial Violence (feat. Einar Solberg) (2016)

7. Intronaut – Fast Worms (2015)

8. John Petrucci – Gemini (2020)

9. Lowen – May Your Ghost Drink Pure Water (2024)

10. Moon Tooth – Crux (2019)

11. Nospun – The Effervescent Power (2025)

12. Novembre – Marea (2002)

13. OSI – shutDOWN (2003)

14. Pyramaze – Perfectly Imperfect (2015)

15. Threshold – Ground Control (2012)

16. Unexpect – Chromatic Chimera (2006)

17. Zierler – Water (2015)

March 2025

1. Ankor – Chop Suey! (2014)

2. Any Given Sin – Nearer Our God to Thee (2015)

3. Avenged Sevenfold – Afterlife (2007)

4. Black Orchid Empire – Deny the Sun (2023)

5. Bodyweb – bodyweb (2023)

6. Both Worlds – Hate Mantra (1998)

7. Doodseskader – I Ask With My Mouth, I’ll Take With My Fist (2024)

8. Essence – Untouchable (2015)

9. existtface – VANGUARD (2009)

10. Faith No More – Falling to Pieces (1989)

11. Floater – Mexican Bus (1998)

12. Inactive Messiah – Building Your God (2004)

13. Limp Bizkit – Shotgun (2011)

14. Metallica – Some Kind of Monster (2003)

15. Mucky Pup – Own Up for What You Say (1993)

16. Nothing More – Fade In/Fade Out (2017)

17. Slipknot – The Heretic Anthem (2001)

18. Stompbox – No Woods (1994)

19. TOOL – Jambi (2006)

20. TRUSTcompany – Close Your Eyes (‘til it’s over) (2011)

21. Utsu-P - 骸Attack!! (2009)

Sorry Sonny. I wasn't aware that you would accept only one suggestion per non clan member. I will keep that in mind for the future.

For the month of April, I would like to keep the Oubliette song.

Here are my nominations for April playlist Andi:

All That Remains - The Piper (2025)

August Burns Red - Your Little Suburbia is in Ruins (2005) or the 2025 remaster

Killswitch Engage - Forever Ahead (2025)

Here are my nominations for the April playlist Sonny.

Gaerea – Unknown (2024)

Selbst – Chant of Self Confrontation (2024)

Oubliette – Desolate Path (2024)

Saor – Glen of Sorrow (2025)

Unreqvited – Void Essence/Frozen Tears (2025)

I cannot say that I am at all surprised by the entitlement of these kinds of people on the internet.

Music is completely subjective and value can be found in anything. Some people are born with a knack for songwriting, some people are born with hateful views towards their fellow man. These two are not mutually exclusive.

Ben clearly falls into a large category of people who like Filosofem for it's songwriting, atmosphere among other things and that is okay! And Ben has also mentioned in his review that Varg is a reprehensible human being and that his admiration for the album has nothing to do with the writer's hateful opinions. But in the eyes of some, you have to pick one; you cannot speak out of both sides of your mouth lest you be labeled just at hateful as the artist in question.

I can see that Ben won't let this delusional take get to him and will continue to listen to albums like Filosofem despite the controversy. And it's honestly the right course of action to take. Good music is good music no matter who is making it; art and artist can be separated, but that sentiment is becoming less frequent by the day it seems.

P.S. these are the same people that hate on social media like Meta (Facebook) and X (Twitter) and their directors, while continuing to scroll and post on the platform every single day.

February 2025

1. Angra – The Bottom of My Soul (2018)

2. Chaos Divine – Hazard (2024)

3. Dessiderium – Dover Hendrix (2025)

4. Earthside – Mob Mentality (2015)

5. The Enigma Division – Echoes in the Deep (2023)

6. Haken – A Cell Divides (2018)

7. Imperial Triumphant – Lexington Delirium (feat. Tomas Haake) (2025)

8. Jinjer – Green Serpent (2024)

9. Joviac – Shine (2024)

10. Monolithe – Unveiling the Illusion (2024)

11. Nevermore – No More Will (1999)

12. Protest the Hero – Soliloquy (2020) (6)

13. Scale the Summit – Goddess Gate (2017)

14. Sepultura – The Pentagram (2020)

15. SikTh – Weaves of Woe (2017)

16. Soen – Jinn (2017)

17. Sometime in February – Palantir (2025)

18. Tiktaalika (Charlie Griffiths) – Gods of Pangaea (feat. Daniel de Jongh) (2025)

19. Vertex – The Purest Light (2025)

20. Wilderun – Passenger (2022)

February 2025

1. Amen – Coma America (1999)

2. Banks Arcade – Ambition (2018)

3. Bring Me The Horizon – YOUtopia (2024)

4. Clockhammer – Bridges Burn (1991)

5. Deftones – One Week (1995)

6. Deliverance – River Disturbance (2018)

7. The Devil Wears Prada – Chemical (2019)

8. Falling in Reverse – Zombified (2024)

9. Gemini Syndrome – Remember We Die (2016)

10. Greg Puciato – Absence as a

11. The God Machine – The Blind Man (1992)

12. Ill Nino, Chino Moreno – Zombie Eaters (2006)

13. Lacuna Coil – In The Mean Time (feat. Ash Costello) (2024)

14. Living Colour – Method (2009)

15. MUCC - 路地裏 僕と君へ (Rojiura boku to kimi e) (2004)

16. Nik Nocturnal, Archie Wilson – Undisturbed (2024)

17. Papercut – Somber Literature (2023)

18. The Plot in You – Left Behind (2024)

19. Seven Hours After Violet – Go! (2024)

20. Thousand Foot Krutch – Small Town (2000)

21. Utsu-P – Potato-Head in Wonderland (2015)

22. Viza – Things Are Awkward (2011)

Here's my nomination for the month Sonny:

Upon Stone - To Seek and Follow the Call of Lions (2024)

Upon Stone - Dead Mother Moon

If you want to hear some melodic death metal nostalgia then I highly suggest checking out the debut album from L.A.'s Upon Stone. It really sounds like a record that takes Scandinavian death metal and doesn't bog it down with tired melodic metalcore trends. It is flawed, but does have its moments from time to time.

3/5

Jinjer - Duél

On the same day that Dream Theater release their newest album, Ukranian's Jinjer return with their fifth studio album Duél. I have no idea what to expect from this since...well a lot has happened in the bands home and native land since 2021's Wallflowers. 

Download/stream the album here:
https://jinjer-jinjer.bandcamp.com/album/du-l