Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

One of only two tracks I like from this Zaraza album, having great potential for doom metal fans:

One of only two tracks I like from this Zaraza album, having more of the industrial side:

This is the only video I could find that has the highlight with the heaviest this Inner Thought album has to offer. I enjoy "Drowning in Sorrow" too, but it's more like sitting on the line between The Horde and The Sphere.

The title track of this Inner Thought album reigns supreme in the industrial metal side (I could only find the video that includes this haunting church organ intro that may be more suitable for a black metal album):

Ben, please add Mono Inc. I consider the album Together Till the End gothic Neue Deutsche Härte, and their new album Darkness is considered gothic metal.

A noise-filled atmospheric black metal highlight with guitar aggression:

Hardcore death 'n' roll from the depths similar to Entombed's Wolverine Blues:

The Beginning of Times starts with perhaps the best track to introduce to Amorphis newcomers:

But it also has this bonus track which is one of the most memorable songs from their soft side:

The most progressive standout to end another spectacular live show, with the gorgeous singing of ex-The Gathering vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen:

This medley is perhaps the centerpiece of this Amorphis show and DVD, throwing back to an amazing album with all its diversity:

And here's another song from the Sonic Frontiers soundtracks, this one having a symphonic alternative metal sound. It's nice and heavy, but as much as I like the vocals by Merry Kirk-Holmes, they're not in the same level as Kellin Quinn in my opinion:

Fates Warning's first ever 10+ minute epic that would hint at the ones they would make in later albums:

My favorite track of this Fates Warning album on the US power metal side, with the best vocals from John Arch:

I've done my review, here's its summary:

The Spectre Within is a true progressive/US power metal gem! It even has a slight edge over their next album Awaken the Guardian that other fans prefer. Their second album with they really start to add progressiveness to their US power metal sound. My first full experience with this band's material was 5 years ago. I was more focused on heavier modern metal than the more melodic old-school metal of yore. I enjoyed the music a lot but eventually got tired of it, especially the vocals. Some things need some time away from me to restore the glory, and when I came back just a few days before this review, I can hear it again as the masterpiece I first thought it was. And I've realized that I enjoy the earlier heavy/progressive metal era of their first 3 albums more than their subsequent melodic progressive metal era. John Arch is one of the best vocalists of the genre. He may sound annoying at first but then you realize how amazing he is with his unique voice. The classic heavy/US power metal side is mixed together with the progressiveness of the band's subsequent albums, the latter best hinted at in a long 12-minute closing epic. In fact, I may just say that The Spectre Within is the true start to the progressive metal genre. Every metalhead should get that offering and listen to this incredible talent. All praise Fates Warning!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Traveler in Time", "Without a Trace", "The Apparition", "Epitaph"

For fans of: Crimson Glory, Dream Theater, Queensryche (especially their earlier material at that time)

I've done my review, here's it's summary:

Re-recording albums can cause some mixed reactions from a band/artist's fanbase. Some enjoy the idea of earlier songs getting a more modern production, while others prefer just hearing new songs. Sadly, we live in a world where people can easily judge something before giving it a try. One other suspicious thing was the timing; at the same time as this release was announced, his former band Helloween embarked on the Pumpkins United tour that saw the return of Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske, but not Roland Grapow. Turns out it was a big coincidence, since Roland began working on the project a couple years before that tour. All I'm gonna say is, this album is a great way to revisit some Helloween classics, with Rick Altzi's vocals guiding you through alongside the other members. The songs are mostly from Pink Bubbles Go Ape, Chameleon, and Master of the Rings, plus a few other songs Roland has written in his remaining albums with the band. Those remaining songs from The Time of the Oath and The Dark Ride have the epic heaviness that would shape up some of Masterplan's more well-known material. The more rock-ish songs are given a heavier treatment. The quirky songs aren't the best but still fun. We should also be grateful for Masterplan's existence that would continue the darker heavier sound he wanted to make since The Dark Ride. PumpKings is for fans of Helloween and/or Masterplan, better if it suits what you really like....

4/5

Recommended tracks (one song per original album): "Mankind", "Still We Go", "The Time of the Oath", "Music", "The Dark Ride"

For fans of: Helloween, Gamma Ray, Stratovarius

Helloween's music is given quite an enchantment by Masterplan in their cover album, as proven by this magical highlight:

Oh OK, I thought we had to submit to Ben so he can add them to the "Featured" page. I understand now, Vinny. But we still need to have our feature releases and threads ready on time to prevent any more inconvenience.

The first ever Masterplan stinker, I can't stand the sh*tty keys and one of the worst heavy/power metal choruses ever:

An awesome 10-minute journey that you just gotta hear to believe:

Everything's so beautiful including background strings, while smashing through with guitars, proving that some of the best closing tracks don't have to be a long epic:

Update due to me having to nominate a last-minute Infinite feature release in Saxy's place:

THE FALLEN: SONNY, Vinny

THE GATEWAY: ANDI, Saxy

THE GUARDIANS: SONNY, Karl, Andi

THE HORDE: VINNY, Sonny, Karl

THE INFINITE: SAXY, Andi

THE NORTH: KARL, Vinny, Sonny

THE PIT: VINNY, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI

THE SPHERE: ANDI

REMINDER: Please submit your feature releases to Ben before the end of the month and have your feature releases' threads ready to be posted in the first one or two days of next month. I can't always do these last-minute nominations, so if you miss the deadline, you'll lose your slot.

One of the most awesome songs by this band is this heavy highlight that I would consider their own theme song:

Lots of catchy emotion in this radio-potential highlight:

A true anthem of power metal from this band formed by former members of Helloween and other well-known bands:

A special playlist I've made to celebrate the fourth year of my monthly Revolution Spotify playlists: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6mecNxT8mB78L0dqouaifG

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

Blue Stahli - "Red Carpet Rush" (3:09) from Antisleep Vol. 04 (2017)

Celldweller - "Fadeaway" (4:47) from Celldweller (2003)

Circle of Dust - "Nothing Sacred (Blue Stahli Remix)" (4:11) from Circle of Dust (1995, 2016 remaster)

Gothiminister - "Raise the Dead" (4:33) from Utopia (2013)

Pain - "Feed Us" (4:14) from Cynic Paradise (2008)

Red Harvest - "Hole in Me" (6:20) from A Greater Darkness (2007)

Total length: 27:14

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

Bury Your Dead - "The Forgotten" (4:21) from It's Nothing Personal (2009)

Cult Leader - "Hate Offering" (2:55) from Lightless Walk (2015)

Fit for a King - "Slave to Nothing" (3:56) from Slave to Nothing (2014)

Neaera - "Caesura" (4:21) from Omnicide – Creation Unleashed (2009)

Parkway Drive - "Carrion" (3:10) from Horizons (2007)

Shadow of Intent - "Imperium Delirium" (7:34) from Imperium Delirium (2025)

Whitechapel - "Faces" (3:12) from Whitechapel (2012)

Total length: 29:29

Here are my submissions for the November Infinite playlist:

Dir En Grey - "The Blossoming Beelzebub" (7:35) from Dum Spiro Spero (2011)

Symphony X - "Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia)" (9:17) from Paradise Lost (2007)

Tesseract - "Of Matter - Proxy" (5:04) from Altered State (2013)

Vildhjarta - "Traces" (6:13) from Måsstaden (2011)

Total length: 28:09

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

Galneryus - "Destinations" (6:08) from Resurrection (2010)

Lorna Shore - "Glenwood" (6:43) from I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me (2025)

Primal Fear - "Nation in Fear" (5:25) from Jaws of Death (1999)

Visions of Atlantis - "Clocks" (3:55) from Pirates (2022)

Warmen - "Japanese Hospitality" (4:22) from Japanese Hospitality (2009)

Total length: 26:33

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Lord of the Lost - "Bazaar Bizarre" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 (2025)

4.5/5. Starting off hard is this majestic opener with Chris Harms' haunting verses. The softness of those verses are in contrast with the chorus of aggression and beauty.

Blue Stahli - "Not Over Til We Say So" from The Devil (2015)

4/5. From the metallic intro, a great heavy banger awaits! I like the background vocals by Emma Anzai of Sick Puppies.

Mechina - "Praise Hydrus" from Venator (2022)

3.5/5. This long epic has effective riffing worth praising, but despite its 8-minute length, it feels like it should've been a little longer with more added.

The Interbeing - "In the Transcendence" from Edge of the Obscure (2011)

4/5. Some spoken female vocals can be heard in this groove-filled (mostly) instrumental.

Skold - "Don't Pray for Me" from Don't Pray for Me (2002/2022)

4.5/5. Skold has made many industrial rock/metal tracks, but this one wasn't released in an album until 20 years after its recording. Never a disappointment!

Not My God, Skold - "Fiction" from Fiction (2020)

4/5. I haven't really included any Skold tracks in past playlists, so let's continue this Skold streak with a couple tracks featuring him, starting with this one. It's more industrial-based similar to Nine Inch Nails yet still having that Sphere sound. I just wish the vocals were louder.

Awake at Last, Skold - "Living Fiction" from Living Fiction (2023)

4.5/5. Then the fiction comes to life in one more amazing collab with Skold! I love the lyrical message here, and it's the kind of music to headbang to while having pizza and soda. H*lla beautiful riffing right here!

Turmion Katilot - "Pienet Pirut" from Dance Panique (2017)

5/5. This standout continues the dance-y industrial metal sound similar to Deathstars.

Zynthetic - "Pathogen" from Soundtrack for the Apocalypse (2010)

4.5/5. Zynthetic and Mick Gordon are masters of creating soundtracks for sci-fi action video games filled with violence and gore. Absolutely bada** industrial metal! You know there's a lot of zombie-killing in Killing Floor, just like in Call of Duty. If a song is part of the game, it's meant to be played to enhance the experience.

Lard - "Ballad of Marshall Bedletter" from 70's Rock Must Die (2000)

4/5. This one stomps with the industrial metal sound once more.

The Amenta - "Psoriastasis" from Revelator (2021)

4/5. This one is a punishing blaster with a relentless breakdown halfway through.

Gighandi - "Spasmodic" from Rafflesia (1996)

4.5/5. Imagine the industrial metal of Godflesh mixed with the post-sludge of Neurosis, then you have this band! And speaking of Godflesh...

Godflesh - "Wound" from Streetcleaner (1989)

5/5. Another standout with its main riff bringing down even the tallest and most stable building.

Black Magnet - "Smokeskreen" from Megamantra (2025)

4.5/5. This one almost reminds me of Godflesh's new album Purge, particularly in that album's highlights.

Samsas Traum - "Wir fahren in den Himmel (Und ich kotze Angst)" from Poesie: Friedrichs Geschichte (2015)

4/5. Pretty great for an Neue Deutsche Harte song. This song has also spawned a music video which is not often for this band, and not often do you see a doodle-animated music video either. When you have the courage to try different things, you might find something beautiful. However, as great as this track, I'm still not into NDH. I just don't get its success when I can't understand German. But how it all turned out is fine as it is.

Samael - "In Gold We Trust" from Lux Mundi (2011)

3.5/5. Good artful lyrics in this solid tune! It signifies how money makes the world go round despite its opposition against religion. Generally, materialism over humanity. The composition is a little embarrassing though.

Halo - "Wasps Encircle the Shroud" from Guattari (From the West Flows Grey Ash and Pestilence) (2001)

3/5. This is one of those tracks where it sounds all crushing and heavy but at the same time I'm like "Why did I add in this song?!"

Megaherz - "Der Konig Der Dummen" from In Teufels Namen (2023)

2.5/5. Now I'm asking that question about this song. Probably the worst song of this playlist! Fine in some parts bout otherwise just plain dumb. Don't listen...

Static-X - "Chemical Logic" from Cannibal (2007)

3/5. RIP Wayne Static... His ability to combine Slayer-esque thrash with the electronics Skrillex would later have is quite unique. Not great, but unique.

Crest of Darkness - "Inexplicable Bloodthristiness" from Evil Knows Evil (2004)

3.5/5. F***ing h*ll, this industrial black metal blend is quite good! Though still a little too intense.

Eisheilig - "Flug der Mowen" from Elysium (2006)

4/5. Another better NDH song to love! Clearly this one and that Samsas Traum track are a better deal than the Megaherz one.

2wo - "Deep in the Ground" from Voyeurs (1998)

4.5/5. Shooting through some more of the cool industrial rock/metal is one of the best tracks of that 2wo album.

Fear Factory - "Terminate" from Hatefiles (2003)

5/5. The last song with guitarist Dino Cazares before his hiatus from the band. As I've said before, I was not into modern metal like this band in my high school-age years, as I was more focused on power metal. But the older millennials may remember this from The Terminator: Dawn of Fate video game. The album the song appears in, Hateflies, is filled with heavy rarities. I honestly wish this song was as f***ing popular as their greatest hits and worth playing live. Then-bassist Christian Olde Wolbers would take over on guitars during Cazares' time off. Then Cazares would rejoin the band in 2009 while Wolbers founded the short-lived Arkaea.

Black Light Discipline - "Same Story, Different People" from Empire (2008)

4.5/5. If you think about it, each band in a genre is like a story told by different people. Still, bands like this one has some uniqueness.

Daedalean Complex - "The Last Dawn" from The Void of Chaos (2024)

4/5. We're approaching the last part of the playlist, where things get less experimental and more melodic, such as this melancholic track.

Atrocity - "Seasons in Black" from Gemini (2000)

4.5/5. Another cool underrated track! The end is near...

A Dark Halo - "Unbreakable" from Catalyst (2006)

5/5. An incredible ending track for its original album, as heavy guitars and beautiful synths continue to duel each other for an industrial/cyber metal tune that should really catch on along with the others.

Omega Lithium - "Point Blank" from Dreams in Formaline (2009)

4.5/5. This highlight shows us the scary consequences of society's self destruction. That's actually quite political, and I'm not one to discuss those kinds of topics. Still it's a beautiful way to end, if not including one final track...

Neurotech - "Escapism" from Exo Escapism (2025)

5/5. One of the most beautiful album endings I've heard. Warm synths battle against cold riffs once more, as the soft vocals give you hope. It's practically "Ultra Us" 2.0!

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any industrial metal fan and anyone who isn't into industrial metal but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Miss May I - "Pray for Silence" from Pray for Silence (2025)

4.5/5. A well-done steady start to this playlist, Miss May I's brand new single!

Lorna Shore - "Prison of Flesh" from Prison of Flesh (2025)

5/5. For the songs in the new Lorna Shore album with breakdowns, its opening track with the best one is this grand rollercoaster ride through stampeding deathcore. A killer way to start this offering!

We Came as Romans - "Dreams" from To Plant a Seed (2009)

4.5/5. RIP Kyle Pavone... The lyrics really hit hard and strong, having more Christian tendencies back in those days, really reaching my heart and soul. "Beloved let us love one another, this is my deepest dream".

Cave In - "N.I.B." from Anomalies, Vol. 1 (2010)

4/5. The band this cover as awesome as the original Black Sabbath hit. Somehow turning an early heavy metal classic into atmospheric metalcore works. RIP Ozzy Osbourne

Neaera - "The Escape from Escapism" from Armamentarium (2007)

4/5. Some top-notch melodeath/metalcore right here! We really need more of that in the modern era.

Fear of Domination - "Inner Lies" from VI: Revelation (2021)

4.5/5. This one starts with the sample that begins Strapping Young Lad's "Home Nucleonics" ("The beat starts here"). The song is a shredtastic highlight with more of those heavy verses and melodic chorus.

Blood of the Martyrs - "The Devil's Grip" from Endgame (2016)

5/5. I love the band's talent in this one. This is kinda like Fit for a King with some bits of Slipknot's Iowa, especially in the vocals. And those vocals consist of a perfect balance between cleans and screams. There's also some early 7 Horns 7 Eyes vibes here.

Of Mice & Men - "Troubled Water" from Troubled Water (2025)

4.5/5. Another miracle is coming, and it's the album Another Miracle! I think the Aaron Pauley is underrated compared to the Austin Carlile era that I still enjoy. We still have some killer heaviness, and starting the last minute of the track is perhaps the longest, most intense scream by Aaron. That and the industrial vibes make this song a banger.

The Pretty Wild - "Paradox" from Paradox (2025)

4/5. First there was The Pretty Reckless, then there's The Pretty Wild! I actually enjoying the rapping that goes well with the singing and screaming.

Winds of Plague - "The Impaler" from Decimate the Weak (2008)

4.5/5. Winds of Plague and The Breathing Process are tied as the first two bands to add symphonics to deathcore. I probably wouldn't have been into this band 10 years ago when I was a power metal-loving teen who wasn't ready for brutality and heavy amounts of swearing. Those brutal moments that I now enjoy include the riffing at the 45-second mark and the destructive breakdown over a minute later. Certainly not a song they would be allowed to play in church venues.

Drown in Sulphur - "Buried by Snow and Hail" from Dark Secrets of the Soul (2024)

5/5. This highlight levels up the orchestral elements in the usual brutal speed of deathcore.

Ice Nine Kills - "Take Your Pick" from Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2 (2021)

4.5/5. This song based on My Bloody Valentine features Cannibal Corpse vocalist Corpsegrinder in probably the most brutal heaviest song of the album, an outright mix of death metal and metalcore (equals deathcore). This collaboration would really hack your face with a pickaxe.

The Breathing Process - "Metamorphosis" from Odyssey (Un)Dead (2010)

5/5. Another standout filled with absolute g****mn fire. Anthemic rage pours from the chords, vocals, and icy keys, making perhaps the most powerful highlight of the album!

Snapcase - "Caboose" from Progression Through Unlearning (1997)

5/5. The perfect anthem to start its original album. Vocalist Darryl Taberski unleashes his screaming power with full intensity. I appreciate the work the band has put in their songs. The lyrics are clear and empowering, without any incohesive rambling. That's what makes the album the energetic masterpiece it is!

Take the Flame - "One to Lose" from One to Lose (2025)

4.5/5. Some killer gems can be found via YouTube ads, the only times YouTube doesn't disappoint me. Amazing riff melodies throughout along with the amazing midsection breakdown. I also like the audible basswork here. More potential for those guys in the future!

Catsclaw - "Perfect Death" from Perfect Death (2025)

4/5. And here's another YouTube ad discovery! This one captivates me with thall-fueled intensity.

DIESECT - "HIDE FROM THE LIGHT" from HIDE FROM THE LIGHT (2025)

4.5/5. HOLY SH*T, this hits hard! It gets me hooked with some industrial vibes within ear-drilling metalcore violence. The downtuned guitars really pack a punch.

LEVELS - "Covert One" from Covert One (2025)

4/5. This band really fires things up sounding similar to Northlane, Bury Tomorrow, and ERRA. Well-done lyrics in this banger!

Frontieres, Joel Holmqvist - "Cybernetic Dream" from Cybernetic Dream (2025)

4.5/5. I almost thought this was that mathcore band Frontierer when I first encountered this song, but this is still top-notch metalcore to love. I also hear a bit of Crystal Lake within the music, especially in the growls by Joel Holmqvist of Aviana. Even when the chorus is clean, it's filled with destructive rage.

ERRA - "Gore of Being" from Gore of Being (2025)

5/5. Jesse Cash needs to be recognized more for his talent in both guitar and cleans. This highlight continues the modern sound of their self-titled album and Cure.

BOI WHAT - "Time's Up" from Time's Up (2025)

4.5/5. Here's another banger from this Plankton AI metal project, and it's more cinematic than his other songs.

Kingdom of Giants - "Digital Hell" from Digital Hell (2025)

4/5. I enjoy the synths in this one, sounding like it's borrowed from Mechina. Good to see Jonathan Reeves doing well in both this band and The Amity Affliction.

Fit for a King - "Blue Venom" from Lonely God (2025)

3.5/5. Interesting vibes from Currents and the heavier side of I Prevail. I just wish this banger was longer.

Killwhitneydead - "She Didn't Look Like She Had a Disease" from Never Good Enough for You (2004)

3/5. This is only one of two tracks I like in this album, and what a surprise! Here they go full-on power metal/grind/deathcore, with some clean falsetto singing! Who knew that was even a thing?!

Hope for the Dying - "The Awakening" from Dissimulation (2011)

5/5. In this glorious 15-minute 3-track suite, each part has different focus on an aspect, with the title track of the suite emphasizing the piano and strings.

It Dies Today - "Marigold" from The Caitiff Choir (2004)

4.5/5. It's hard to believe that I didn't start listening to metalcore until I was already a young adult, whereas most metalcore fans started out in high school or even middle school. Amazing music and lyrics here!

The Number Twelve Looks Like You - "Paper Weight Pigs" from Mongrel (2007)

4/5. I'm glad this band can continue to strive after their temporary split. Midway through is a brief heavy breakdown worth repeating.

Psyopus - "Death, I..." from Ideas of Reference (2004)

4.5/5. Mathcore bands like Psyopus can be quite impressive when they can pull off riff technicality and experimentation within 3 to 5 minutes in song length. Everything explodes into fast chaos, including the vocals that I think fit the music well, despite others disagreeing. You can just dissect a Tool or Deftones song and add it to grind/metalcore to make something brilliant. The acoustic intro may seem easy to play but it has turned out to be harder than anything else, particularly when it's actually multiple guitars play at once. Quite a mathcore trip, I would say!

The Chariot - "They Faced Each Other" from The Fiancee (2007)

4/5. I'm happy to hear some great math/metalcore here. I can even hear some of the heavier side of Oh Sleeper!

Frontierer - "Bombgnasher" from Unloved (2018)

4.5/5. Right from the intro riffing, you're in for a f***ing wild ride! This mathcore sound also has some funk and thrash here and there.

War From a Harlots Mouth - "Uptown Girl... Uptown Girl... I Had a Crush on You, Oh Uptown Girl!" from Falling Upstairs (2006)

4/5. NO this is not a cover of that Billy Joel/Westlife song. Some of the most chaotic music and lyrics come from the first minute. The kind of chaos fans of the genre have heard since their high school years, unlike when I was listening to power metal in my teen years before getting into metalcore.

While She Sleeps - "Gates of Paradise" from So What? (2019)

4.5/5. And finally, we end this playlist with the closing track of this While She Sleeps album. This can make anyone sing/scream along to this song, at the risk of saying the F-word where people can hear.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any metalcore fan and anyone who isn't into metalcore but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Andromeda – In the Deepest of Waters (2001)

5/5. Let's start with what sounds a more aggressive while still melodic Dream Theater-like band that I would certainly be up for! I love the synths at over the one and a half minute mark along with the vocals originally by Lawrence Mackrory that don't appear until less than a minute later. And a couple more minutes later, one of the best guitar solos in progressive metal! I'm really having a blast here.

Between the Buried and Me – Psychomanteum (2025)

4.5/5. I really need to get back in touch with the music of BTBAM. They still have the fun energy of their more popular releases like The Parallax series. When Tommy Rogers bellows the song title "PSYCHOMANTEUM" at the two-minute mark, that really hit me hard, along with the h*lla heavy riffing less than a minute later. A minute after that, the extremeness is lowered down for some soft beauty. That goes on for a couple minutes, rising up to a brief wacky moment of drums, piano, and vocals. Some of that heavy riffing hits less than a minute later, heavier than the earlier riffing. Nearly a couple minutes after that, the soft beauty comes back in the form of Opeth-like ambience and guitar fiddling by Paul Waggoner, followed by more of that beautiful mood. Everything is so haunting and heavy throughout those 11 minutes! I would probably love to check out more of their new album The Blue Nowhere someday.

Conception – Parallel Minds (1993)

5/5. Tore Ostby and Roy Khan are both legends as they perform this brilliant highlight with all their talent, alongside the other members. In fact, I can hear some of the influences for Roy Khan's later band Kamelot, particularly in his first few albums with the band.

The Contortionist – Casualty (2012)

4.5/5. After kicking things off with a screaming verse, a more atmospheric while still heavy section comes in. But the best part is the guitar soloing that starts two minutes after. Jazzy djenty prog-metal of beauty and bliss!

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

4.5/5. A strong clean swansong for the blissful harmonies of Sindre Nedland. RIP

Symphony X – The Odyssey (2002)

5/5. The title epic of Symphony X's 6th album is the longest track the band has ever done, at over 24 minutes. You know how much I love long epics, especially when there's lots of fresh variation. I love those kinds of tracks as much as the less progressive listeners love tracks that are up to 6 minutes long. A true epic should never be so draggy throughout its length (looking at you, funeral doom "epics"!). In these 7 parts of this epic, things can switch from orchestral to acoustic to metal, often going from slow to fast back and forth. And the lyrics do the journey of Odysseus justice! All I have more to say is, it's one of the greatest epics in the metal part of my existence!

TesseracT – Juno (2018)

5/5. We still have one more track left, and... What's that? More progressive djent?!? You've come to the right place. Enjoy the ride!

Epic brutal new single from this German folk-infused symphonic blackened deathcore band:

The outside-world friend of mine who showed me that song from the Sonic Frontiers soundtrack, featuring Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens, showed me two more songs from that soundtrack, and I really dig both of them. This one sounds closer to DragonForce-style power metal:

The outside-world friend of mine who showed me that song from the Sonic Frontiers soundtrack, featuring Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens, showed me two more songs from that soundtrack, and I really dig both of them. This one includes some rapping by Tyler Smyth (not to be confused with The Word Alive vocalist Tyler Smith):

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Sabaton - "Primo Victoria" from Primo Victoria (2005)

4.5/5. "Through the gates of hell, as we make our way to heaven, through the nazi lines... PRIMO VICTORIA!" A powerful lyrics to begin with, as the song details the Normandy landings that occured on June 6 1944. The first of many historical war-themed songs the band would make.

Galneryus - "My Hope is Gone" from Into the Purgatory (2019)

5/5. My hope for power metal was once gone, but now it's restored! Those J-pop idols may get all the fame, but songs from metal bands like this have greater strength and it's not something you can often witness in your lifetime.

Powerwolf - "Fire & Forgive" from The Sacrament of Sin (2018)

5/5. A fantastic song to love for Halloween month! Look out for another Powerwolf song, or at least a cover, later on in this playlist...

Black Sabbath - "Supernaut" from Vol. 4 (1972)

4.5/5. RIP Ozzy Osbourne... The tributes continue with another powerful track, this one from their classic early 70s era. Even when the guitar sounds fuzzy, it's quite metal! Their classic heavy metal era with Ozzy would end after Sabotage, following it up with two hard rock albums before Ozzy was dismissed. The length is at the right amount, an extended version would be sleep-inducing, not that it actually would ever be. And I would never take drugs unlike those guys. Drugs are bad, mkay?

Ozzy Osbourne - "Mama, I'm Coming Home" from No More Tears (1991)

4/5. Sadly, Ozzy really has come home to the heavens above a couple weeks after performing this song and many others one last time in that Black Sabbath reunion show. Farewell once again, Prince of Darkness...

Budgie - "Whisky River" from Squawk (1972)

3.5/5. Budgie is another band that has split up long ago and lost their frontman. RIP Burke Shelley... The riffing is quite good, and while it's more metallic than the majority of 70s rock music, it has more in common with Led Zeppelin than any of the metal bands we know now. Still kinda enjoyable though.

Judas Priest - "Metal Gods" from British Steel (1980)

3/5. An OK song, but Rob Halford's vocal power can't be denied.

Sir Lord Baltimore - "Kingdom Come" from Kingdom Come (1970)

2.5/5. I'm now just realizing that this may not be the best choice for a Guardians playlist. It really sounds closer to the hard rock of Deep Purple. Black Sabbath would better establish the heavy metal genre that year. Still I respect this band's attempt at trying.

Twisted Sister - "I Wanna Rock" from Stay Hungry (1984)

3/5. Let's face it, anyone as young as me is more familiar with this classic when played in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City or that "Goofy Goober Rock" parody in the 2004 Spongebob Squarepants Movie. It's a solid banger, but I think it would rule if there was an extended version with the lengthy epic solo from that Spongebob parody.

Edguy - "Rock Me Amadeus" from Space Police: Defenders of the Crown (2014)

3.5/5. I have an outside-world friend who likes both heavy/power metal and pop classics like that Falco song. This is my gift for my friend. The chorus really does justice to that of the original. The one big issue here is the sound having some poor balance, but that's just me. ROCK ME AMADEUS!!!

Bruce Dickinson - "Afterglow of Ragnarok" from The Mandrake Project (2024)

4/5. Bruce Dickinson is one of metal's great vocal heroes, there's no denying that. He's probably tied with Roy Khan (Conception, ex-Kamelot) as one of the best vocalists of heavy/power metal in my opinion. And this particular track has a bit of progressiveness not too far off from Dream Theater.

Metallica - "Nothing Else Matters" from Metallica (1991)

4.5/5. I think I'm starting to appreciate ballads a lot more now, even the earlier popular ones, and even when I'm only in my late 20s. If I enjoy something that no one expects me to enjoy, I still like it, and nothing else matters.

Iron Fire - "Legend of the Magic Sword" from Blade of Triumph (2007)

5/5. Further sealing my growing appreciation for ballads, this one I really love! It sounds similar to that Metallica ballad but better and more underrated, maybe even similar to one of Rhapsody of Fire's ballads. With that and the lyrics covering the legend of King Arthur, it's probably one of the most wonderful ballads I've heard.

Primal Fear - "The Hunter" from The Hunter (2025)

5/5. Absolutely superb guitars and vocals, perfect for an action fantasy movie!

Alestorm - "Sea Shanty 2" from Voyage of the Dead Marauder (2024)

4.5/5. You all know how much I enjoy playing the MMORPG RuneScape, so Alestorm covering a song from the game was a dream come true for me. What's next, a cover of the more epic RuneScape tracks by DragonForce or Gloryhammer? I sure hope so!

Visions of Atlantis - "Lemuria" from Cast Away (2004)

4.5/5. Visions of Atlantis would later hop aboard the pirate metal ship, though I also love their earlier era with Nicole Bogner. RIP

The Dark Element - "Not Your Monster" from Songs the Night Sings (2019)

5/5. I'm glad we still have the godly singing of Anette Olzon after she left Nightwish following their album Imaginaerum.

Xandria - "Scars" from The Wonders Still Awaiting (2023)

5/5. After a massive change of lineup, Xandria can still unleashed a symphonic metal explosion of colors!

Lord of the Lost - "Moonstruck" from Opvs Noir Vol. 1 (2025)

4.5/5. Breaking boundaries further, Chris Harms sings and screams alongside the Stimmgewalt choir, sounding similar to Moonspell's more symphonic works.

Edenbridge - "Alight a New Tomorrow" from The Bonding (2013)

4.5/5. Edenbridge is quite underrated compared to bands like Nightwish and Within Temptation. The guitars and vocals are some of the best I've heard in the genre.

Warmen - "Somebody's Watching Me" from Accept the Fact (2005)

5/5. Ooh, another spooky song for Halloween month! RIP Alexi Laiho...

Norifumi Shira, Concerto Moon - "Tears of the Prayers" from Gate of Triumph (2001)

4.5/5. Truly a melancholic neo-classical metal instrumental of epic beauty. We need more of those really!

Volbeat - "Healing Subconsciously" from The Strength / The Sound / The Songs (2005)

4.5/5. This one ends the original album with one of the most climatic closing tracks in standard heavy metal.

Warkings - "Armata Strigoi" from Morgana (2022)

5/5. The perfect song for a battle against vampires! Warkings made this cover of a Powerwolf song as a result of going on tour with that band and DragonForce. Needless to say, when they covered a DragonForce song, that was a total failure. But again, their Powerwolf cover is a powerful banger.

Masterplan - "Music" from PumpKings (2017)

5/5. Helloween's music is given quite an enchantment by Masterplan in their cover album, as proven by this magical highlight!

Avantasia - "Lost in Space" from The Scarecrow (2008)

4.5/5. OK, this one is more of a pop/hard rock track, but one of the best ways out for this playlist. I especially recommend the extended version featuring Michael Kiske.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any heavy/power/symphonic/neoclassical metal fan and anyone who isn't into those genres but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

October 2025

1. Lord of the Lost - "Bazaar Bizarre" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 (2025)

2. Blue Stahli - "Not Over Til We Say So" from The Devil (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Mechina - "Praise Hydrus" from Venator (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. The Interbeing - "In the Transcendence" from Edge of the Obscure (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Skold - "Don't Pray for Me" from Don't Pray for Me (2002/2022)

6. Not My God, Skold - "Fiction" from Fiction (2020)

7. Awake at Last, Skold - "Living Fiction" from Living Fiction (2023)

8. Turmion Katilot - "Pienet Pirut" from Dance Panique (2017)

9. Zynthetic - "Pathogen" from Soundtrack for the Apocalypse (2010)

10. Lard - "Ballad of Marshall Bedletter" from 70's Rock Must Die (2000)

11. The Amenta - "Psoriastasis" from Revelator (2021)

12. Gighandi - "Spasmodic" from Rafflesia (1996)

13. Godflesh - "Wound" from Streetcleaner (1989)

14. Black Magnet - "Smokeskreen" from Megamantra (2025)

15. Samsas Traum - "Wir fahren in den Himmel (Und ich kotze Angst)" from Poesie: Friedrichs Geschichte (2015)

16. Samael - "In Gold We Trust" from Lux Mundi (2011)

17. Halo - "Wasps Encircle the Shroud" from Guattari (From the West Flows Grey Ash and Pestilence) (2001)

18. Megaherz - "Der Konig Der Dummen" from In Teufels Namen (2023)

19. Static-X - "Chemical Logic" from Cannibal (2007)

20. Crest of Darkness - "Inexplicable Bloodthristiness" from Evil Knows Evil (2004)

21. Eisheilig - "Flug der Mowen" from Elysium (2006)

22. 2wo - "Deep in the Ground" from Voyeurs (1998)

23. Fear Factory - "Terminate" from Hatefiles (2003)

24. Black Light Discipline - "Same Story, Different People" from Empire (2008)

25. Daedalean Complex - "The Last Dawn" from The Void of Chaos (2024)

26. Atrocity - "Seasons in Black" from Gemini (2000)

27. A Dark Halo - "Unbreakable" from Catalyst (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

28. Omega Lithium - "Point Blank" from Dreams in Formaline (2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

29. Neurotech - "Escapism" from Exo Escapism (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

October 2025

1. Miss May I - "Pray for Silence" from Pray for Silence (2025)

2. Lorna Shore - "Prison of Flesh" from Prison of Flesh (2025)

3. We Came as Romans - "Dreams" from To Plant a Seed (2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Cave In - "N.I.B." from Anomalies, Vol. 1 (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Neaera - "The Escape from Escapism" from Armamentarium (2007)

6. Fear of Domination - "Inner Lies" from VI: Revelation (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. Blood of the Martyrs - "The Devil's Grip" from Endgame (2016)

8. Of Mice & Men - "Troubled Water" from Troubled Water (2025)

9. The Pretty Wild - "Paradox" from Paradox (2025)

10. Winds of Plague - "The Impaler" from Decimate the Weak (2008) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Drown in Sulphur - "Buried by Snow and Hail" from Dark Secrets of the Soul (2024)

12. Ice Nine Kills - "Take Your Pick" from Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2 (2021)

13. The Breathing Process - "Metamorphosis" from Odyssey (Un)Dead (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Snapcase - "Caboose" from Progression Through Unlearning (1997)

15. Take the Flame - "One to Lose" from One to Lose (2025)

16. Catsclaw - "Perfect Death" from Perfect Death (2025)

17. DIESECT - "HIDE FROM THE LIGHT" from HIDE FROM THE LIGHT (2025)

18. LEVELS - "Covert One" from Covert One (2025)

19. Frontieres, Joel Holmqvist - "Cybernetic Dream" from Cybernetic Dream (2025)

20. ERRA - "Gore of Being" from Gore of Being (2025)

21. BOI WHAT - "Time's Up" from Time's Up (2025)

22. Kingdom of Giants - "Digital Hell" from Digital Hell (2025)

23. Fit for a King - "Blue Venom" from Lonely God (2025)

24. Killwhitneydead - "She Didn't Look Like She Had a Disease" from Never Good Enough for You (2004)

25. Hope for the Dying - "The Awakening" from Dissimulation (2011)

26. It Dies Today - "Marigold" from The Caitiff Choir (2004) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

27. The Number Twelve Looks Like You - "Paper Weight Pigs" from Mongrel (2007)

28. Psyopus - "Death, I..." from Ideas of Reference (2004)

29. The Chariot - "They Faced Each Other" from The Fiancee (2007)

30. Frontierer - "Bombgnasher" from Unloved (2018)

31. War From a Harlots Mouth - "Uptown Girl... Uptown Girl... I Had a Crush on You, Oh Uptown Girl!" from Falling Upstairs (2006)

32. While She Sleeps - "Gates of Paradise" from So What? (2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

October 2025

1. Sabaton - "Primo Victoria" from Primo Victoria (2005)

2. Galneryus - "My Hope is Gone" from Into the Purgatory (2019) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Powerwolf - "Fire & Forgive" from The Sacrament of Sin (2018) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Black Sabbath - "Supernaut" from Vol. 4 (1972)

5. Ozzy Osbourne - "Mama, I'm Coming Home" from No More Tears (1991)

6. Budgie - "Whisky River" from Squawk (1972)

7. Judas Priest - "Metal Gods" from British Steel (1980)

8. Sir Lord Baltimore - "Kingdom Come" from Kingdom Come (1970)

9. Twisted Sister - "I Wanna Rock" from Stay Hungry (1984)

10. Edguy - "Rock Me Amadeus" from Space Police: Defenders of the Crown (2014)

11. Bruce Dickinson - "Afterglow of Ragnarok" from The Mandrake Project (2024)

12. Metallica - "Nothing Else Matters" from Metallica (1991)

13. Iron Fire - "Legend of the Magic Sword" from Blade of Triumph (2007)

14. Primal Fear - "The Hunter" from The Hunter (2025)

15. Alestorm - "Sea Shanty 2" from Voyage of the Dead Marauder (2024)

16. Visions of Atlantis - "Lemuria" from Cast Away (2004) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. The Dark Element - "Not Your Monster" from Songs the Night Sings (2019)

18. Xandria - "Scars" from The Wonders Still Awaiting (2023)

19. Lord of the Lost - "Moonstruck" from Opvs Noir Vol. 1 (2025)

20. Edenbridge - "Alight a New Tomorrow" from The Bonding (2013)

21. Warmen - "Somebody's Watching Me" from Accept the Fact (2005)

22. Norifumi Shira, Concerto Moon - "Tears of the Prayers" from Gate of Triumph (2001)

23. Volbeat - "Healing Subconsciously" from The Strength / The Sound / The Songs (2005)

24. Warkings - "Armata Strigoi" from Morgana (2022) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

25. Masterplan - "Music" from PumpKings (2017) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Avantasia - "Lost in Space" from The Scarecrow (2008)

Here's my review summary:

Formed by guitarist Bobby Sadzak, Inner Thought takes some thrashy death metal from his previous work in Canadian band Slaughter and mixes it together with industrial metal for an interesting combo. The programmed drumming sounds so inhuman and works side-by-side with the electronic keyboards. The end result is what Fear Factory would sound like at that time, if that band didn't drop most of their death metal elements in Demanufacture. All in haunting steel! Some of the best tracks here are the more unpredictable ones, like some serene female singing by Mary Giordano giving the heavy darkness some light. The main vocalist Dennis Balesdent has the ability to switch from deathly growls to blackened shrieks. With that and the melodeath leads, they've gotten a bit of that Gothenburg sound months before At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul (RIP Tomas Lindberg). But it should be noted that rapping doesn't belong in these extreme albums! Perspectives would've been perfect without that one song with a rap verse by Dennis. Still, Perspectives is a solid example of death metal gone sci-fi, similar to early Fear Factory. I think Inner Thought has really emphasized the fear in that factory. Any metalhead should get a hold of this and explore what this album has to offer.

4/5

Recommended tracks: "Words", "Sanctioned Situations", "Tortured", "Rack of Lethargy"

For fans of: Slaughter, early Fear Factory, Circle of Dust

Here's my review summary:

3 years after their previous album Pain Remains, the masters of symphonic deathcore are back with their new album I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me! The new album really is similar to Pain Remains. Elitists can put their hand down though, because as I said above, there are some fantastic surprises that not even Pain Remains has, which we'll get to as the review goes on. The album doesn't have a multi-track suite like that of Pain Remains, let alone have it released alongside 3 singles. Less singles, more anticipation, am I right? And guess what, there are more songs that have no breakdowns! As much as I like breakdowns, it's nice to not hear them in nearly every song. Those songs without breakdowns end up sounding closer to straight-up extreme symphonic metal, so I don't mind this album sitting in The Guardians. When the breakdowns do come on though, they're some of the most crushing breakdowns in Lorna Shore's career. The brutal heaviness is balanced out with the epic melody that makes some songs, including the ones without breakdowns, a few of the band's most glorious songs yet, especially that 10-minute final track. Basically, they've taken the best of those eras and added a few new things including a highly different heavier track. In their perfect 2020s melodic symphonic blackened deathcore era, I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me might just be the best of the best. Extreme vocals, drumming machinery, blazing guitars, booming bass, and cinematic orchestration make a recipe of unbreakable epicness. And I'm grateful that something like this can be heard all over the world!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Prison of Flesh", "Oblivion", "Unbreakable", "Glenwood", "Death Can Take Me", "War Machine", "Forevermore"

For fans of: A Wake in Providence, Worm Shepherd, Hope for the Dying

Here's my review summary:

I think just found my new favorite nu metal album. There are so amazing songs that sound as fresh as they did 24 years prior. These 9 members perform in great synergy, especially in the rhythm section, not just from Wilson but also two percussionists, as well as drummer Joey Jordison and bassist Paul Gray. RIP the latter two... Many of the tracks are prime examples of nu metal, some of which have a more rock-ish tone while unleashing their usual rage in everything. Then it all ends with the 15-minute closing title epic, an incredible journey for those who are patient and never restless. Truly an offering of pure in-your-face extreme nu metal!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "People = Sh*t", "My Plague", "Everything Ends", "Left Behind", "I Am Hated", "New Abortion", "Iowa"

For fans of: Stone Sour, Korn, early Linkin Park

Update for November:

THE FALLEN: SONNY, Vinny

THE GATEWAY: SAXY, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: SONNY, Karl, Andi

THE HORDE: VINNY, Sonny, Karl

THE INFINITE: ANDI, Saxy

THE NORTH: KARL, Vinny, Sonny

THE PIT: VINNY, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI

THE SPHERE: ANDI

Here's my submission for the November Gateway playlist:

Cave In - "Paranormal" (from Perfect Pitch Black, 2005)

Earlier drama and muddy production aside, the highlight of this Immortal Disfigurement album really stands out as the symphonics stay audible while making room for the heavy energy:

Incredible guitarwork and guest vocals in this epic blackened deathcore offering's grand finale:

The year of Bellum Interruptum is not even over, and we're already getting two new singles from Mechina's upcoming album that will be out next year! I somehow think these two singles fit well as a two-part epic, with "Theoxenia" being the epic part and "The Orbital Blood Famine" being the heavy part. Both parts include the clean singing of Mel Rose and the harsh growls of Ricky Lewis who guest appeared in the closing track of Bellum Interruptum, "The Overwhelming Harmony of Collective Suffering". But wait, where's Dave Lowmiller?! Will he still be in the upcoming album, or are they switching harsh vocalists again? Guess we'll find out when the upcoming album arrives, whether on New Year's Day or any other date.

And now for one of the more popular bands in the Christian alt-metal/metalcore scene:

Demon Hunter - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2mlaMr1Nf1YzQpIind6IZi

Disc 1

1. Infected

2. The Gauntlet

3. Not Ready to Die

4. Beauty Through the Eyes of a Predator

5. Not I

6. One Thousand Apologies

7. Sixteen

8. Follow the Wolves

9. Collapsing

10. The World is a Thorn

11. Feel as Though You Could

12. Tomorrow Never Comes

13. Dead Flowers

Disc 2

1. Death

2. Beyond Me

3. Jesus Wept

4. The End

5. Cut to Fit

6. The Negative

7. Peace

8. Fear is Not My Guide

9. Loneliness (Resurrected)

10. Silence the World

11. Godless

12. Sorrow Light the Way

13. There Was a Light Here

And now for one of the more popular bands in the Christian alt-metal/metalcore scene:

Demon Hunter

1. The World is a Thorn

2. The Triptych

3. Storm the Gates of Hell

4. True Defiance

5. Summer of Darkness

6. Extremist

7. Demon Hunter

8. War

9. Outlive

10. There Was a Light Here

11. Peace

12. Exile

13. Songs of Death and Resurrection

An absolutely epic and emotional highlight with no breakdowns, basically extreme power-ish symphonic metal, enough to qualify in this thread: