Likewise, Xephyr, I was a bit of a fan in their very earliest days, at least up to the Halflife EP anyway, then they just seemed to be more driven by commercial success than any kind of artistic integrity and I kind of tuned them out after 2001's Unleashed Memories with no real desire to revisit them any time soon.
Great review Vinny. They may not play it anymore, but Nocturno and Fenriz absolutely epitomize the black metal ethos of giving zero fucks what anyone thinks of them.
You know Ben, I could have sworn that I had already featured Friends of Hell on the Fallen playlists, but looking back I haven't. I enjoyed this album too, unsurprisingly as I'm such a huge Rev Biz fan I suppose. Spoiler alert: they aren't on August's list, but I'll definitely remedy that for the following month.
Been listening to this one on and off over the last few weeks and am still trying to work up a review to do it justice. You are right Ben, it does need commitment on behalf of the listener but is definitely worth the effort.
I can only echo Ben's comments Martin. The great thing I have found with Metal Academy is that you will never get "flayed alive" for expressing a sincere opinion. I think all the active members recognise every other member's right to hold their own opinions and respect for others' views are paramount to the ethos of Metal Academy.
I agree with you Vinny that The Obsessed's position in the annals of doom metal has been over-inflated by some and, for me personally, The Church Within is their weakest album, even more so than 2017's reunion album, Sacred. I am a big fan of Wino but I prefer Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan and The Hidden Hand over The Obsessed.
Hey Vinny, I don't know which version you listened to, but the most widely available version contains a ten-minute edit of the track Cleansing. I think you would find the sixteen-minute version available on the vinyl release, which has a more extensive build-up, addresses your stated issue with the song.
Nice review Vinny. I've recently been contemplating the very issue you touch on in your review, ie how do you rate albums that may be a bit derivative but are done really well? I thought of starting a forum thread on it and may yet do so. Anyway, I'm definitely gonna check this out this week.
Fantastically written and expounded review Xephyr. I'd never really consciously considered it before, but you are spot on about Blackwater Park being an uncompromised bridge between extreme metal and the mainstream. The review an album like this deserves!
Great review Daniel. I didn't have the same reservations myself as I don't have the same technical background and am not averse to a bit of melody in black metal, but I do appreciate a well-written review with well-argued points even if I don't necessarily agree.
After listening to it, I can confirm it's one of the better power metal albums to my ears, but it's still not my kind of thing and my mind kept wandering away from it.
I can't usually stand power metal, but your review has made this sound so interesting I'm going to have to check it out now. Hope it's as good as you make it sound!
I agree that they are better with more expansive songs. Leaving Nadir and especially Unto the Ages of the Ages are two of my absolute favourite NWOBHM songs - underrated!
I've never listened to these guys before, but I'm always up for some quality Slayer worship, so I'll rectify that soon. Nice review, Daniel.
Likewise, Xephyr, I was a bit of a fan in their very earliest days, at least up to the Halflife EP anyway, then they just seemed to be more driven by commercial success than any kind of artistic integrity and I kind of tuned them out after 2001's Unleashed Memories with no real desire to revisit them any time soon.
Fenriz has respect, Varg is just infamous. Better the former than the latter.
Wow, you really upset that guy, Daniel!!
Great review Vinny. They may not play it anymore, but Nocturno and Fenriz absolutely epitomize the black metal ethos of giving zero fucks what anyone thinks of them.
Nice review, Vinny, of one of my absolute favourite albums. Glad you got so much out of it too.
Hear, hear!
Hey that's cool!
Completely agree with this assessment Daniel. Give Em Hell is a classic NWOBHM album but this is so decidedly average it almost hurts.
Another classy piece of cover art from Mariusz Lewandowski too.
You know Ben, I could have sworn that I had already featured Friends of Hell on the Fallen playlists, but looking back I haven't. I enjoyed this album too, unsurprisingly as I'm such a huge Rev Biz fan I suppose. Spoiler alert: they aren't on August's list, but I'll definitely remedy that for the following month.
Hey, what are you trying to say about sixty year olds, Ben!
Been listening to this one on and off over the last few weeks and am still trying to work up a review to do it justice. You are right Ben, it does need commitment on behalf of the listener but is definitely worth the effort.
I can only echo Ben's comments Martin. The great thing I have found with Metal Academy is that you will never get "flayed alive" for expressing a sincere opinion. I think all the active members recognise every other member's right to hold their own opinions and respect for others' views are paramount to the ethos of Metal Academy.
A superb album, unrivalled in the realm of industrialised black metal as far as I can see.
I agree here Ben, a good, albeit inessential slab of OSDDM.
I agree with you Vinny that The Obsessed's position in the annals of doom metal has been over-inflated by some and, for me personally, The Church Within is their weakest album, even more so than 2017's reunion album, Sacred. I am a big fan of Wino but I prefer Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan and The Hidden Hand over The Obsessed.
Nice one Vinny! This is a real underrated gem in my opinion.
Just checked this out after your review Vinny and it absolutely slays.
Nice concise review Vinny. I've been sitting on this one for a while, think I'd better give it a spin or two.
Hey Vinny, I don't know which version you listened to, but the most widely available version contains a ten-minute edit of the track Cleansing. I think you would find the sixteen-minute version available on the vinyl release, which has a more extensive build-up, addresses your stated issue with the song.
Nice review Vinny. I've recently been contemplating the very issue you touch on in your review, ie how do you rate albums that may be a bit derivative but are done really well? I thought of starting a forum thread on it and may yet do so. Anyway, I'm definitely gonna check this out this week.
Fantastically written and expounded review Xephyr. I'd never really consciously considered it before, but you are spot on about Blackwater Park being an uncompromised bridge between extreme metal and the mainstream. The review an album like this deserves!
Great review Xephyr. It sums up my feelings about modern traditional heavy metal much better than I ever could myself.
Great review Daniel. I didn't have the same reservations myself as I don't have the same technical background and am not averse to a bit of melody in black metal, but I do appreciate a well-written review with well-argued points even if I don't necessarily agree.
I've been eyeing this one up for a while - I really will have to check it out soon.
Thanks guys. Your comments mean a lot.
Nice review Daniel. Even makes a gothic metal sceptic like me interested in hearing how it sounds!
After listening to it, I can confirm it's one of the better power metal albums to my ears, but it's still not my kind of thing and my mind kept wandering away from it.
I can't usually stand power metal, but your review has made this sound so interesting I'm going to have to check it out now. Hope it's as good as you make it sound!
I would say, for fans of having your fucking mind blown!!
Great story, great review. I too have fond memories of playing Doom, although I was a lot older than two!
Well, at least this time I know it's not just media hype!
Great to hear that this has (kind of) changed your view of one of my favourite metal sub-genres.
Sounds interesting - I'll have to check it out.
Nice review Andi. I'm stoked you like it, one of my absolute all-time favourite albums and a true 80's metal classic.
I agree that they are better with more expansive songs. Leaving Nadir and especially Unto the Ages of the Ages are two of my absolute favourite NWOBHM songs - underrated!
Great review, great music.
Minus one star for being twenty minutes too short.
Great review. Spot on with the album being a reaction to the desertion of extreme doom metal by some of it's premier exponents.
Couldn't agree more. This is the album all black metal should be judged against.