Saxy S's Forum Replies

Can we add the new Despondent Moon album Enshrouded in Eternal Moonlight

It's pretty amazing that a band like Converge can release Jane Doe in September of 2001 and be heralded as the GOAT of mathcore, yet Botch can come along just over a year later with this EP and invoke the same critical reception.

As I have mentioned many times before, mathcore is not my specialty. Something about the irrationality of it all and how none of it sticks together just leaves me feeling empty after hearing it. But some groups can make it work: Converge from Axe to Fall and beyond, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Rolo Tomassi and Botch would probably fall into that category. The guitars are given prominent roles as a melodic instrument throughout as Dave Verellen's vocals are allowed to be as punishing and relentless as possible. The compositions are fluent as well; "Japam" and "Vietmam" are structured well and do not fee like an amalgamation of four/five ideas lumped together without a through line. 

I will say that the cathartic release that I felt following the buildup from "Afghamistam" into the first half of "Miciragua" was impressive, but the song "Afghamistam" on its own doesn't feel like it belongs here. It's a decent cut and a great way to show off the groups capability to play slow and atmospheric, but the runtime is a detriment and is not as developed as the albums heavier moments.

I feel like this EP is much more in the realm of mathcore that I can appreciate for its songwriting prowess alone. The production does help also, but it is the overall connectivity that makes these tunes resonate as actual pieces of music that I can listen to and enjoy rather than as a mosh pit anthem. An Anthology of Dead Ends is hardly my favourite in this niche subsect of mathcore, but there was an effort put forward and it did pay off.

7/10

This is a relentless dose of blackened metalcore that is ferocious, visceral and punishing as anything I've heard in a metal/mathcore idiom in a very long time. The short runtime works to its benefit as tunes don't overstay their welcome. The production does fall a little flat, especially in the percussion. But as I have said on many occasions, most mathcore focuses on the moshpit and getting the people worked up and ready to form a wall of death or circle pit. As part of an album, you don't have that luxury. This is music for the live venue, and until we can get back there again, this kind of music will not resonate as well as some other reviewers might think. Still, it did have some solid moments and it does resonate better than other albums in this regard in 2020. So...yeah, good stuff, but not really in my jurisdiciton.

6/10

4. St. Anger is not that bad? Not great, but... 

For as hilariously embarrassing as St. Anger is, at least it had potential. Death Magnetic meanwhile was both disappointing and empty. St. Anger saw these heavy metal giants tackle nu-metal, and fail. But instead of refining it or doing something completely different, the group decided to make a paint by numbers thrash metal album, produced by Rick Rubin (who also produced Reign in Blood) that was not just an absolute disaster from a sonic point of view, but it was the album that is most devoid of identity than any previous Metallica album.

5. The standard gory death metal is overrated, melodic death metal deserves more attention.

I don't think old school classic death metal is overrated, I just think it's garbage!

I like these spicy hot takes! Here's some of mine:

• Slayer's Reign in Blood is shit. I never cared for Slayer, and even though Seasons in the Abyss is a classic in every sense of the word, most people excuse this album's awful production as part of the charm. It's not.
• Anthrax were (and still are) the best of the big four. But since were on the topic...
• Testament are the best thrash band that came out of the eighties, with the best overall discography of any of the big four, and should have been apart of the big four instead of that meandering solo shit show that is Dave Mustaine's Megadeth.
• Pantera fans are the worst fans in all of metal. Their idolization of this band as a deity who are incapable of critique is honestly terrifying and my favour with the band has deteriorated greatly because of it since the passing of Dimebag.
• Emperor's best album was Prometheus
• Ænima is still Tool's worst album. Even after having Fear Inoculum for over a year.
• Opeth's progressive rock pivot of the 2010s is not as bad as you initially thought.

That's all I got for now. If this thread keeps up and I see some more spicy hot takes, I may update.

As per RYM: "Sludge metal is a subgenre of Metal that combines the slow, dark instrumentals and atmosphere of Doom Metal with the aggressive, harsh screams and shouts credited to Hardcore Punk." They then go on to claim that Atmospheric Sludge is simply that, but "performed with an emphasis on atmospheric and textured riffs". 

Suffice to say that The Galilean Satellites does not sound like The Melvins, Baroness, High on Fire, or the early Mastodon albums. However, the slower tempos displayed on this record are not that dissimilar to the stylings of Doom metal, and the hectic cacophony of sound from the guitars, bass, percussion, vocals and other instruments is both clean, and also rough, the later of those being synonymous with hardcore punk and later on, thrash metal. So I at least understand where the term "atmospheric sludge metal" comes from.

But I do agree with Daniel in the sense that the term is very ambiguous as to its meaning. At the very least, RYM lists atmospheric sludge metal as a subgenre of post-metal as opposed to sludge/doom. Most releases that receive this tag are always pegged with post-metal anyway; Neurosis, ISIS, Cult of Luna, The Ocean. I think that the term is loosely used to differentiate between different kinds of post-metal, because atmospheric black metal/blackgaze also exist. Post-metal is a tag that can be used to describe anything and like with progressive metal, I find it unbelievable that any album can have a "progressive" genre tag, but not be associated with anything else; progression of what? Take a look at Death Doom metal as well!

While we may agree that "atmospheric sludge metal" is a derivative title that refers almost exclusively to post-metal, I'm not sure its removal from the Fallen clan is warranted. In the same way that Deafheaven's Sunbather or Oranssi Pazuzu's Mestarin Kynsi should not be removed from the North.

I see that Andi created a Judgement post about this album so I will talk about that at another time. But for me, The Galilean Satellites is a wonderful display of pacing in a post-metal album. The compositions are incredibly simplistic but grow beyond their motifs through spacing, dynamics and time. Songs like "Europa", "Absent" and "Au Pays Natal" make me feel this huge bundle of energy that slowly grows, and the explosive release at the final chords is wonderful. Even the second disc of ambient/drone stylings is quite impressive. But what really bothers me is the duality of it all. I cannot stand the idea of playing two records simultaneously as if they are inseparable. Trust me, I've tried it; it doesn't work! As it stands, I think The Galilean Satellites would be among the greats in the subgenre if it was only one disc of all post-metal or drone tunes. Together, it can become overwhelming, regardless of how you listen to the album.

7/10

It appears to me that the general consensus surrounding this album is far more conflicted than I would have anticipated. Most people really enjoy Here In After, but many reviews, including here on this website, pull this record back because of its polish from a production standpoint. That's one of the biggest issues I have with death metal as a sound, as well as it ferocious fanbase; death metal could have been making huge strides in production during the five year span between Dawn of Possession and this, but the fanbase will not allow it. Only the melo death groups from Scandinavia like At The Gates and Dark Tranquility were willing to take the clean dive. And those groups almost never receive the same recognition and acclaim as Immolation, Gorguts, or Morbid Angel.

As a result, I have always been a "basic" death metal fan who prefers melo death, and the technical stuff I do like is from a band such as Atheist and my favourite Death album is The Sound of Perseverance. But let me say... I really enjoyed Here in After! The cleaner sound give the bass some explosive punch that make the tempo changes hit with authority instead of sounding like sloppy mixtapes. Hooks are sparse, after all this is a death metal album, but the stuff that we do get is pronounced and the songs themselves have recurring themes and motifs that are reinterpreted throughout the song structures. And the structures are hectic, modulating through numerous time signatures and tempo changes as is common in this style of music. And they are weaved together remarkably well.

If I had to nitpick, some of the percussion does not maintain a consistent level of proficiency throughout the record. "Nailed To Gold" opens the album very sloppy and had me initially dreading the rest of the record. "Away From God" is also a fairly weak cut overall. But songs like "Burn With Jesus", "I Feel Nothing" and the awesome closer "Christ's Cage" are some of the best sounding tech death I've heard in a long time. In some regards, Here In After reminded me a lot of Ulcerate's Stare Into Death And Be Still from last year. The cleaner production makes it sound like a breath of fresh air and it still holds up to this day.

8/10

In my defense Daniel, I have always been a staunch defended of Overkill beyond their debut album. That album was sloppy; from a production standpoint, to the compositions, and pretty much the entire performance of those compositions. Overkill learned their lesson and made a big change from that record to Taking Over and later on to The Years of Decay and Horrorscope. This album is solid hook driven thrash metal that is varied in stylings, making it super easy to digest. I still stand that The Years of Decay is a better album, but during the early 1990s when the big four were "selling out", this would have certainly scratched that itch.

8/10

Which one of you had me ending 2020 with a review of a beatdown album on your bingo cards? I think it is safe to say that this was not a comfortable experience for me, but I appreciated the effort. I got a lot of vibes from that new Gulch album, Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress while listening to this: very brief, but relentless hardcore that will absolutely slap in a live setting. But since I am a notorious melodic hardcore snob, not much about this record sticks in my head. I think my biggest problem with beatdown music is that there is not much substance involved in it, rather just an excuse to strain your neck from headbanging, and throwing down in a mosh pit. But I will admit that these breakdowns are hard as hell and far better than Gulch's last album. So if you're into this kind of thing, it can be a joyous ruckus. It just isn't for me that's all.

6/10

Lunatic Soul - Through Shaded Woods

Don't know how many Riverside fans there are in here, but the leader of that group (Mariusz Duda), has a progressive folk album that was released back in November.

https://kscopemusic.bandcamp.com/album/through-shaded-woods-deluxe-edition

As an Oranssi Pazuzu noob going into the bands most recent record, I can wholeheartedly agree with the assessment that in terms of what defines a metal as "black metal", this is one of the farthest from the genres roots. But I would argue that the harmonic and melodic passages from the guitars do have much in common, even if these tropes are used in unique ways. The shrieking vocals are also very inline with what one would expect from this genre. Whether or not one agrees that this is enough to quantify its classification as a black metal record is in the eye of the beholder.

I see a lot of similarities between Mestarin kynsi and Written in Waters by Ved Buens Ende..... It is music that has clear influences in black metal, but is so far removed from what that genre entails that classification is seemingly impossible. Whether that constitutes this record as progressive or avant-garde is irrelevant (personally, I believe these two tags are interchangeable). I respect this record for pushing boundaries as far as it did, and you know what? It even produced a great song in the process (Oikeamielisten sali). But like with most "alien" progressive records, the production takes the reigns in creating a claustrophobic atmosphere a fair bit too often for my liking, instead of off the floor dissonance or obscurity. 

7/10

Numinal Shroud - Through the False Narrows

New Canadian atmospheric black metal with some very cool tinges of both doom and death metal interspersed throughout the record. The barebones production is commendable, but does hurt some passages as they do not feel flushed out. Still, a very strong debut release and cannot wait to hear more. FFO: Fen, Falls of Rauros

https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/through-the-false-narrows

7/10

I have never cared for Deathspell Omega in the past and have never believed that Paracletus deserves all of the acclaim that it has received in the past ten years. I'm sure this is in large part to Deathspell Omega just never really being my cup of black metal tea. It's very technical in the ways of death metal and the continuous tempo/theme/groove changes on a whim are downright infuriating.

But I decided to give them another chance with the Chaining the Katechon EP from 2008. And this might be the least enjoyable Deathspell Omega project I've heard to date. If I thought that the songs on Paracletus and The Furnaces of Palingenisa were poorly thought out, imagine my frustration when I find out this EP was a single, twenty-two minute song! This band's music is hard enough to focus on when its shorter, bite sized songs. But putting putting it all together like this was a bad idea from the start. There are enough unique passages of melodies and grooves to make a full album out of. But when it's all put together like this, it sounds pretentious.

I am certainly one for controversial takes, but I have never like bashing albums/artists that have been heralded as the greatest. I can make an exception for Deathspell Omega. This is the kind of progressive/avant-garde stylings that I cannot stand with its lack of focus. And this lack of focus does make its way into the sound of the album as well; drawing a lot of dissonance, but not doing anything with it.

4/10

As I come off my review of Incantation's Diabolical Conquest, we now find ourselves back in the more traditional form of death doom metal with My Dying Bride. And truth be told, I've never really cared all that much for My Dying Bride. There music has been tolerable and I don't mind at all if it comes up in a playlist or if it gets recommended to me, but something about them just doesn't stick with me.

And with The Dreadful Hours, I think I finally figured out what that Achilles heel was: the synths. I've heard a lot of synths used on metal albums in power metal and gothic doom over the last year, and the albums that does resonate with me are the ones with the inauthentic synthesizers. I know they are called "synths" for a reason, but the strings and choral arrangements don't match with... anything.

Which is a damn shame because the basic fundamental "doom metal" portions are really good. Take for example "My Hope, The Destroyer" as well as  "Le Figlie Della Tempesta". The rhythm and guitar work is solid, and truly spectacular during the dual melodic harmonies. These passages also allow for some adequate bass lines to be pronounced in the mix. It's very simplistic, but I can let it slide given the stylings we are dealing with.

But those synths...they take me out of the experience. One minute this album can be transcendent and I can be soaring amongst the clouds, forgetting everything quibble in the world. But as soon as those choirs hit, I'm immediately brought back to reality. I mean the craftsmanship on display is commendable and is worth hearing just for that, but for me, when I think of early 2000s gothic metal, with complimentary synths, I am going to have to stick with Green Carnation.

7/10

I have listened to my fair share of death doom metal from The Ruins of Beverast, Officium Triste and Swallow The Sun that I feel like I can speak to this album a little bit. I like its melodic focus, but outside of low guttural howls, it does not fully represent the death metal sound. Incantation were looking to form a sound that combined death and doom metal together into something truly spectacular and genre defying. But what we ended up getting was a good album that I wish I like a lot more than I do.

For starters, Incantation have a huge distinction of actually using destructive blast beats and tremolo picking reserved for the bottom two strings of the guitar, in addition to doom style riffage and utterly slow tempos. On the surface, I would have hoped that Diabolical Conquest would have made these two ideas work in harmony with a fluent blending of styles. Instead, what we ended up getting was an album that is one part death metal, one part doom, and the rest is sudden transitions between the two with very little interweaving or connectivity.

And as someone who isn't a big fan of the traditional form of death metal, I can admit to liking some of these passages here. The best moments come on "Disciples of Blasphemous Reprisal" and "Ethereal Misery", while "Shadows of the Ancient Empire" have some solid ideas as well. The doom passages are strong; lacking much of the ethereal strings/synths that much of my listening in this repertoire, but still cool framing devices. But it's the rapid swapping of tempos between ideas and phrases that are more in line with the technical side of death metal that I have never been a fan of.

Maybe I'm spoiled because of a lot of exposure to atmospheric black metal like Saor that makes transitions between slow, ethereal passages and relentless black metal with elegance and grace that make me a little more lukewarm on Diabolical Conquest than I would have liked. Nevertheless, the music within is very good and the band show a profound level of proficiency in their performance. The two ideas on their own are very good, but they are being tied together very loosely and I do have to mark it down because of it.

7/10

Because of the extended workload that comes with the month of December for any music critic, I will not be able to complete full album reviews for this months featured clan albums. Even though I really want to with Testament. They were/still are a band that went underappreciated by so many, even though I would argue that their discography stands out above those of even the big four; they are my favourite eighties thrash band.

The debut record is one that is a benefactor of being released later in the 1980s, so that it did not have to feel the full brunt that came along with records like Kil Em AllI and Show No Mercy of being too slapdash and dirty (and especially one particular Overkill debut album that was talked about a couple months ago). It is remarkably clean, the riffs are humungous, Chuck Billy's vocals are among the best in all of thrash metal, and it hits like an eighteen wheeler. It does have some faults, mostly within the performance execution. I hold The Legacy up as being the best thrash debut of the 1980s, and yet, they would only be scratching the surface in regards to their ceiling. 

8/10

Well, I don't think that any of us could have described Ohms any better than Xephyr ladies and gentlemen. It's over; time to go home!

As I somewhat mentioned in my review back when this album came out, it is an improvement from Gore, the sound is more natural and it fits in the same vein as so many longtime Deftones such as myself will appreciate. However, if you've come to this album expecting a new, fresh sound from the Deftones, one that will not follow in the shadows of the behemoth that is White Pony in front of it, you've come to the wrong place. Only for longtime fans at this point.

6/10

My rating system is quite simple actually. There tends to be a lot of overlap between close ratings, so it is my final judgement in the end based on how much I see myself return to a project that determines its final score.

5: Perfect record. Can be heard at any time in full without question. Reserved only for an elite few records

4.5: A near flawless record with a few quibbles, but even they don't deter the albums quality.

4: A great album with a few quibbles, but these issues are prominent enough to hold it back from the elite.

3.5: Either a solidly consistent record with no real standout moments, or a good album in which quality alternates between great to just okay

3: A good album in which quality alternates between good to just okay or flat out bad. 

2.5: Literally middle of the road. An album that might sound good or have a cool concept, but is as quickly forgotten about as when it entered my ears.

2: A record in which the artist might show some promise, but is severely misguided in its delivery.

1.5: A record in which the artist might show some promise/potential, but is delivered in horrendous fashion.

1: A record in which the artist cannot be bothered to create something of quality. In a word: worthless.

0.5: Where the artist in question are actively attempting to insult my intelligence and I start to question whether or not they just learned what music was. Reserved for special, dubious occasions.

The "vocalist" in that band is stealing a living.

Your negative feedback on that Disillusion record made me feel a little better about my less than favorable opinion on that record as well so thanks for that Vinny!

 I also agree that the album is pretty front heavy (NOTE: Rereading, I realize Saxy said “back” heavy, so maybe we’re not in sync?). 

I realize that my framing was a little ambiguous at first so allow me to clarify:

When I said the back end of the record as being heavy, I meant that the song quality was more impressive. The front half of the record is heavy in aggressiveness for sure, but I just found it to be less enjoyable. Basically, the first half is aggressive heavy, the second half is quality heavy.

Hope that clears things up somewhat. 

I have to thank you once again Daniel for recommending some modern metal in the featured clan challenges. It is a great reason for me to explore places I don't necessarily visit. Such as mid 90s tecch death circa Immolation/Cannibal Corpse. And while I will admit that it certainly isn't my cup of tea, there is a lot of promise that someone who really appreciates that sound will enjoy more than myself. This is some clean sounding death metal; some of the best I've heard in years. However, the compositions are pretty jarring in their transitions. Also, the lack of guitar/bass independence makes for some pretty uneventful instrumentals throughout.

In addition, the general consensus surrounding this album is that it's "not really reinventing the wheel". I don't mind worship of a time once passed, but if their is nothing that distinguishes it from those early Immolation and Cannibal Corpse records, why would I not just listen to those instead? Undeath needs to do... something to make them stand out in the future. Otherwise, bands like Tomb Mold will run circles around them.

6/10

DSBM is a really tough subgenre of music for me to listen to or even discuss. I have listened to, at most, three DSBM album in my entire life, and all of it has been pretty forgettable to outright bad. Shining are within the former of those two categories. While the music is produced well and very dreary to match the atmosphere, the compositions are really weak. Not helped at all by some honestly painful sounding vocals. I understand why they sound the way that they do, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they sound very amateurish. Not to mention the fact that Kvarfoth is an absolutely reprehensible human being (I only just discovered this after completing my review). Shining have no stakes in the content and it shows.

6/10

HEALTH - DISCO4 :: PART 1

Not metal, but it does have features from Full of Hell and Youth Code so...that counts right?

I really enjoyed this post-industrial darkwave album from L.A. group HEALTH. The record is called DISCO4 :: PART 1 and has features across the spectrum of unconventional soundscapes to create a dark, claustrophobic environment.

7/10

https://youwillloveeachother.bandcamp.com/album/disco4-part-i

It's hard to explain this album and I'm pretty confident that that most people who read my review for it will will be thrown off by how disjointed it was. Even looking back on it a day later and I'm wondering what the hell was I talking about! So allow me for a brief redo.

This record is not good. And it highlights pretty much all of my dissent towards math/grindcore over the years. The frantic passages are so quick and plentiful that none of them are given ample amounts of time to resonate beyond some howling vocals and unconventional guitar techniques. This also carries on for far too long. In addition, when the record transitions into the more tuneful, sludgy breakdown passages, they feel so short and added as an afterthought. They don't develop nearly enough to warrant their extended appearances, especially on the extended tunes "Hospital Fat Bags" and "Pork Finder".

What it all boils down to is a mosh fest album that I can respect in a mosh pit. It's heavy, aggressive and relentless. But, outside of a mosh pit, there is nothing of memorable value on display on I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die. The compositions are painfully run of the mill, and with the benefit of hindsight, we can see this brand of nihilistic math/grindcore can be executed well, such as Daughters. Gaza is not that, and it disappoints me that more modern mathcore bands use this as their framework instead of bands like Dillinger Escape Plan and Daughters.

4/10

...What? You didn't think that I was going to miss out on my opportunity to talk about Devin Townsend did you?

To me, Strapping Young Lad has always been the red headed stepchild in Devin Townsend's musical endeavors. And with Alien, I can see it's appeal within Devin Townsend's discography with a lot more hindsight and deep dives into his entire discography. To me, SYL reminds me more of a project in which Townsend is free to let out his most absurd, technical thrash adjacent music that he is physically capable of making. And if that's what you're looking for, then cool; more power to you! This is very impressive technical thrash by it's own regard.

However, that seems to be all that it is. Let me not mince words here: Devin Townsend is one of heavy metal's most eclectic musicians. So for him to make a pure industrial-thrash metal album is a little disappointing. Not to mention the fact that the music found within is not among his best. "Imperial" and "We Ride" work really well, "Love?" is a very accessible song I guess, and the album ends with "Thalamus" and "Zen", which turn out to be the albums most progressive moments. Beyond those, this is pure aggression all of the time. And I can only listen to so much of it before it gets tiresome. To hear guitar riffs that are almost indistinguishable from one track to the next is infuriating to say the very least.

For an industrial-thrash album, it is very solid. But I expect more out of Devin Townsend; the guy responsible for Terria. The sequencing of this album is extremely back heavy, and the full frontal assault leaves me exhausted by the time it reaches the "Two Weeks" interlude. 

7/10

ugh...

I do not like Disillusion's sound even though I know I should. I just find their music to be so boring and devoid of emotional presence. The music is fine and produced well, but the compositions are so disjointed and held together with the thinnest string imaginable. As I said in my review, I cannot remember a single idea brought forth on this record in comparison to Mabool by Orphaned Land, or Isa by Enslaved, both released in the same year.

5/10

In regards to Bath by maudlin of the well, that record, along with Leaving Your Body Map are an incredible one-two punch that is still unlike anything that you will ever hear within the realms of avant-garde/post-metal. These records are among my most played metal albums of all time.

As for The Roundhouse Tapes, I don't typically listen to live or compilation records, but it was nice to hear some live Opeth. They are a phenomenal group live at recreating their studio sound. The inclusion of "Windowpane" was a welcome touch.

My list is very unconventional and perhaps contentious depending on who you ask:

1. Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)

2. Anthrax - Among the Living (1987)

3. Testament - The Ritual (1992)

4. Slayer - Season in the Abyss (1990)

5. Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)

6. Kreator - Phantom Antichrist (2012)

7. Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black (1999)

8. Testament - Souls of Black (1990)

9. Vektor - Outer Isolation (2011)

10. Overkill - The Years of Decay (1989)

I have made it clear in recent months that I have never cared for Primus, nor do I predict that I will ever care about Primus. They have always turned me off with their "look how quirky we are!" mentality to writing music that I just tune out. With Faith No More, you can still hear the cheese and it is on full display in the music, but I have always felt like, and with this album in particular, there has been some reality or seriousness attuned to it. And I have really enjoyed trying to pick it apart. As for the music itself, it is some of the best funk metal I have ever heard and helped lay a framework that most of us attribute to Rage Against the Machine. I really like most of the genre blending that takes place and all of it is crafted with the same amount of care; nothing sounds forced or underperformed. Very solid stuff.

9/10

Having gone back and re-listened to Black Sabbath's first six studio albums have made me realize how much their sound changed over the first five years. Given that this band was taking rock and roll to places it had never been before and were ridiculed by the mainstream for it, but Ozzy and company were not simply contempt with their sound from Paranoid and Master of Reality. And this record proves it.

I never truly realized how remarkable until just recently. For the longest time, I felt as if the debut self-titled album was the pinnacle of Black Sabbath's career. But It was clear with Sabbath Bloody Sabbath that they were going to take the more alien tones of what we now know as doom metal from the self titled debut, and the more rock leaning "accessibility" of the Paranoid and Master of Reality LP's. The title track is excellent, "Sabbra Cadabra" is slightly more uptempo, but the grooves are heavy, Ozzy's vocal performance is stunning, and the guitar leads/solos are among some of the best in Black Sabbath's entire discography. The album ends with a really cheesy strings outro on "Spiral Architect" that is reminiscent to "The End" of Abbey Road, but it fits the environment so incredibly well that it is almost impossible to hate. I even really enjoy the acoustic interlude, "Fluff" as a show of restraint and anticipation.

The self titled debut may have been the record that invented heavy metal, but Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the album that nearly perfected it. Almost every song on this record (with the exception of "Looking for Today") has purpose. Sabbath must have known about the shockwaves they were making in the underground, even as the mainstream had to reluctantly acknowledge their existence. But Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the magnum opus and has forced to reconsider my favourite Sabbath album.

9/10

I already did a review of this record so here's a modified, cliff notes version:

Thrash metal has been dealing with an identity crisis for some time now, and Warbringer are near the forefront of this. They have a sound that is undeniably 1980s thrash, but they do nothing with it. Every riff, every solo, and every lyrical theme has been beaten to death by the bands they are attempting to imitate, to the point where they don't even bother trying to cover it up on "Power Unsurpassed"!

The band also can't figure out how to mix a bass guitar properly, which makes these songs feel really long and boring and the guitars are not doing enough heavy lifting to compensate. If I want to hear modern thrash music done well, I will stick with Testament, Kreator and Havok. Hell, even Anthrax's 2016 album For All Kings was a step up. It will be far more enjoyable that listening to Peace Sells...But Who's Buying for the eight-hundredth time.

6/10

First of all, let me say that I am flattered that my review of this record was enough to intrigue Daniel enough to check out this record, and include it in this month's clan challenge. And that's even with the knowledge that comparisons are scarce. So thanks.

As for the record itself, you can read my review if you want to know more. But this album is much more tune focused than a number of the drone album's I've heard in recent years. The almost free jazz elements are intriguing and the long song structures allow for some truly great crescendos. That said, the concept surrounding it does feel like the band were trying to compose something that was transcendent (did the album cover not give that away?), the album is too long and meanders a lot, which may be the point as this feels like the perfect soundtrack as you surround yourself in a cloud of smoke. 

But my opinions on this record is quite simple: approach this with an open mind and an endless array of possibilities. If you treat this as a "Drone metal" album (emphasis on metal), then you will be disappointed, as many early reviews showed. I understand that this might not be for everyone, but you would be foolish to not appreciate the leap forward that Neptunian Maximalism are taking in Avant-garde Drone music.

8/10

Greetings Keleros! We are always glad to see new faces visit Metal Academy and we hope that you stick around and check out some of the unique features that we have. Whether it be rating your go to albums or perhaps giving them full reviews, checking out new music in the forums, or my personal favourite, featured releases, where we discuss classic albums of all different styles and learn a bit more about what makes them stand out for each of us. There is plenty to see and do around here so check it all out and enjoy yourself!

Well, for one, the feature on this website that I appreciate the most is the featured release tab. It has allowed me to hear a swath of albums that I would never even have considered to listen to on my own time. It also gives me an opportunity to revisit older albums to freshen up and see if they hold up as they did when I originally discovered them. I also enjoy hearing the opinions of others to see what makes them tick about a these albums as well. One thing that I would like to see improved upon is the addition of modern releases on occasion. I have a library full of music within the last five years that I adore, but are seemingly unheard of by many, and I'm sure that many others have records like this as well.

While the clan challenge lists seem intriguing, it is something that I would like to do, but I would never be able to find the time. However, I noticed that the "Critic List" and "Metal Academy Lists" are severely underutilized. I briefly spoke to Daniel in a PM asking about allowing for other users to be able to create their own lists. I specifically brought up the example of "Best of 2020" lists created by users. Of course, it does not have to be limited just to "Best of 2020" lists. I would leave that up to the discretion of of the individual users.

I will say that I think the Hall of Judgement is broken. Or at the very least, very few people use it. This could also be in large part to the very few "recurring students". I also think that because those recurring users are all in different clans, very few records ever make it to the fifteen vote minimum. Maybe we can reduce the vote count? I can think of other alternatives that I would prefer moreso, but it's a start.

That's all I can really think of atm. As I have said from the very beginning, my favourite element of this website is being able to discover lots of heavy metal music. I have heard more new records in 2020 than I have in any of the previous three years. I hope that my comments are a step in the right direction for this website for the remainder of the year, as well as into 2021.

Svalbard - When I Die, Will I Get Better?

I will post in The North clan as well, but this English Hardcore group is pulling out all of the stops bringing in elements of Black and Post-Metal into a one of a kind experience that I never knew that I needed! FFO: Rolo Tomassi, Astronoid & Harakari for the Sky

9/10

https://svalbard.bandcamp.com/album/when-i-die-will-i-get-better-2

Svalbard - When I Die, Will I Get Better?

I will post in The Revolution clan as well, but this English Black Metal group is pulling out all of the stops bringing in elements of Hardcore Punk and Post-Metal into a one of a kind experience that I never knew that I needed! FFO: Rolo Tomassi, Astronoid & Harakari for the Sky

9/10

https://svalbard.bandcamp.com/album/when-i-die-will-i-get-better-2

Swallow The Sun are a band that I have found lots of time to digest (pun intended) over the last two years or so. Their 2019 album, When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light, was a spiritual successor to Trees of Eternity's Hour of the Nightengale, an album I herald as one of the best records of the 2010s, and not just in metal. And for what it was worth, that record was solid as well and Swallow The Sun's discography has been pretty redundant, even calling for their mammoth triple album from 2015.

And so with this EP Plague of Butterflies, a single, thirty-four minute song, what we ended up getting is pretty impressive. This band know how to write a good song and how to hold onto that idea for as long as they can without having it sound repetitive or boring. It starts off harmless enough, but when we enter the second large chunk of the song, we start to hear the death metal elements creep in with relatively faster tempos and crunchier grooves. But its the final portion that hunkers down and brings this piece to an absolute stand still. Whether or not you like that will heavily determine your enjoyment of this.

I didn't find it that bad. In fact, the first few minutes of "Evael 10:00" is a return to the opening riff, which I very much appreciated, but it falls off the rails a little bit near the conclusion. In the end, the booming guitars and soaring strings sound awesome during the loud sections, almost bordering on prog metal. But the poor mixing of transitions between loud and soft sections hold this song back from being an all time classic. Still highly recommended though.

8/10

Hi Ben. Can we Add The Reticent? 

Hi Ben. Can we add The Reticent? 

I don't usually participate in Horde clan challenges. This is in part due to my lack of knowledge within this clans subgenres, and the stuff that I have listened to does not leave me with a lot of positive stuff to say. So when I saw this months clan challenge was from a Melo-death band that I have had lots of success with in the last five years, I had to share my thoughts.

And while I do enjoy Above the Weeping World, my enjoyment of this record is hindered by this bands later success. The album sure does have its great moments, but the albums previous to this one show that the band were not willing to take that many risks within the subgenre beyond some production adjustments and minor tweaks. Meanwhile the bands 2010s output is far superior as both death metal records, and progressive metal albums. This is good, but not deserving of legendary status, in my opinion. I think that this record had the band only scratching the surface of what they could accomplish.

7/10

Single-track albums typically come with a heap of speculation and worry in which the group will not be able to live up to the heightened expectations. These expectations are primarily brought on by the fact that there are two drastic extremes in this style with little room for a middle ground. It's either Crimson or it ain't Crimson as it were.

Green Carnation's Light of Day, Day of Darkness is a phenomenal Progressive/Doom/Gothic Metal album and it is done by excellent songwriting and interconnectivity. When the album breaks away from the Doom metal mold, it produces some beautiful interludes. The hooks are plentiful and the production is solid, if a little patchy. A lot of people listen to Dopesmoker when they want to get high and sucked away into that musical world. I listen to Light of Day, Day of Darkness for that rush. And I don't even need drugs to get there!

9/10

SOAD are one of the few groups that made nu-metal cool back in the day. For a genre that is pretty reviled by the metal community in hindsight, this band's blend of Alternative/nu-metal along with mild engagements with oriental Armenian music was very cool. And not only that, the lyrics, provided by Serj Tankian, were very invigorating. On Toxicity, the band took this up a notch and created their most commercially successful record and most critically favoured. And while I personally believe that Mezmerize is better, that does not leave Toxicity a slouch.

The tunes are quite fruitful for a nu-metal album and the the tonal quality is very progressive for the time. It is a record that has stood the test of time and is one of this subgenre's shining beacons in a very long and dark cavern. 

7/10

Slayer - Dead Skin Mask

Today marks thirty years of my favourite Slayer record, Seasons in the Abyss. I'd like to indulge in a classic.

Can we add the new Anaal Nathrakh album Endarkenment?

I'm just going to copy my review here:

I don't have much to say about Hopesfall and their second official record, No Wings to Speak Of, a short four song EP from 2001. What I will say is that if you go into this album expecting the same metalcore experience you got from Converge and their album, Jane Doe, from the same year, boy are you in for a surprise. These songs feature a much cleaner production quality and some very pretty songwriting, both during the albums soft and loud passages. The loud portions are anchored by some very sweet octave melodies in the guitar. The vocals are solid from Jay Forest during his screams, but his clean singing does lag a little bit. Not that it's bad, I rather enjoyed "Open Hands To The Wind" and "The End Of An Era", but they do sound pitchy at times. A bit of a shame since they typically appear overtop of tighter instrumentals.

The only real thing that I can critique this album for is how similar it sounds to so many other post-hardcore/metalcore albums that would precede in the years following. Given that Hopesfall is mostly remembered as a mediocre band at best by most critics, I doubt this EP could possibly be "legendary". But for a brief moment, Hopesfall had the sound that defined an entire decade of post-hardcore/metalcore music. And it just so happens to be the kind of metalcore that I immediately fall for. It's short and sweet, does not overstay its welcome, the worst elements are not held on to for an extended period of time, and in some cases are even lifted up by other strong elements, and is just a lot of fun.

8/10

So...I do not listen to very much industrial metal. Much of my brief dabbling's in the genre have been met with a resounding "meh". I don't think any of it is inherently bad, but there are so many acts just refusing to push boundaries. When you hear one industrial album, you've heard them all I guess.

However, when I saw Nine Inch Nails' Broken EP featured, I had to talk about it because Nine Inch Nails is one of my most important artists of all time. As a alternative rock group, they were one of a kind incorporating electronic percussion and manipulating other parts. As an electronic act, they have been constantly evolving their sound and style into something that is polished and clean.

Broken is certainly not polished and clean. The heavier guitars and Trent Reznor's howls are matched wonderfully with the abrasive percussion and thumping bass. I really enjoyed how this EP uses both live and electronic percussion together, giving it at least somewhat of a sense that it is really there. I can't say the same about the changing timbre of the guitars though.

I will be unapologetic when I say that Nine Inch Nails are a much better electronic band than as an industrial rock one, to the contrary of many music critics. But Reznor created a truly special industrial rock/metal side venture with Broken. While the band did experiment further with this sound on The Downward Spiral, it was inevitable that it would not last. But we can all still enjoy this fractured trip.

8/10

Hi Ben, can we add the new The Ocean album Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic/Cenozoic?

Listening to Mystification is just a simple reminder to myself that I do not listen to nearly enough American Power Metal. Most of it reminds me of watered down Thrash, and who wants to listen to that?

This album by Manilla Road has no synths, no symphonic breaks, and no bombastic vocal performances which are par for the course in European Power Metal. And you know what? On this record, that isn't a bad thing. While the melodic passages might be more subdued, they still hit with an emphatic gut punch that is unmistakable. The fast tremolo picking of the guitar that pollutes this album is in debt to early thrash metal, especially "Up From The Crypt". And I have to disagree with Macabre about polish on this one; for as in debt as this album is to those early, rough thrash albums by Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer, Manilla Road perform these songs with such subtle precision and polish that some listeners might not even notice!

The album is produced remarkably well, highlighted by its thunderous bass lines. This album is relentless with its grooves, and after all of that, they throw a ballad on the end of the album "Dragon Star" that is the best song on the record! Honestly, I could see myself returning to this again and enjoying it even more than I did for the clan challenge. 

8/10