Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies
The tracks in this 3 or 4-track EP bring Bad Wolves and the heavier side of Breaking Benjamin to mind with its mainstream/metallic blend alt-metal is known for. The only track I would consider NOT metal is the ballad "If I Walk Away". With two tracks I consider metal (3 if counting the bonus clean version of "Don't Fall in Love"), I'm positive The Wreckage's sole release would qualify for this site.
Ben, please add There for Tomorrow. Their 2004 debut Point of Origin is considered melodic metalcore in RYM.
Cool Voivod shirt, Daniel! Sad that it has to go.
Ben, please add The Wreckage.
Ben, please the new A Dark Halo album Omnibus One.
Having listening to the new Mechina album Bellum Interruptum, I realized the first minute of its opening track sounds practically similar to that of the RichaadEB/Cristina Vee cover of "Bad Apple!!" When that first verse hits, I almost feel like singing "Ever on and on, I continue circling, with nothing but my hate and the carousel of agony..."
Ben, please add the new Mechina album Bellum Interruptum.
The final third of Bellum Interruptum has arrived! Below are my thoughts on the tracks.
1. When Honor Meant Something - 7:51
2. The Collapse Promised to All - 3:17
3. The Overwhelming Harmony of Collective Suffering - 5:09
I'm glad they kept in "When Honor Meant Something", and they remastered it too, making it much clearer than the single version and even adding in some narration at the end. "The Collapse Promised to All" is the shortest track of the album and actually the best one of this part, sounding almost like a continuation of the title track while adding in some more of Mel Rose's vocals along with the growls of Dave Lowmiller. "The Overwhelming Harmony of Collective Suffering" is a solid ending track seguing from the previous one, and it features Ricky Lewis who I'm guessing is the one doing the higher-range growls. But now it seems David Holch really is gone from this band, and Dave Lowmiller might just be the brand-new growler. Still an official announcement would've been nice. Anyway, Mechina is back and have proved that they're far from dead with one of the most diverse albums yet in Bellum Interruptum. Still can't beat the second half of the 2010s though....
Album rating: 4/5
A slip into an acoustic sound that sounds too f***ing dull for me:
Sludgy industrial metal great for a motorcycle ride in the night:
I wish you and your wife all the best on each of your separate paths, Vinny.
The perfect starting track to treat you with what to expect in this industrial metal album:
Ben, please add the KMFDM album Angst. Although the industrial metal tag is not within the 2:1 RYM ratio (FOR - 36, AGAINST - 25), I strongly believe there's enough of that genre, that they would have more of in their next album Nihil, for Angst to qualify in the site.
A nice rough heavier remix than the original White Zombie track:
Underrated otherworldly djenty cyber metal for those who want similar music to Mnemic and other modern bands:
One of many highlights from The Interbeing's cyber metal/melodeath masterpiece debut:
This cyber metal highlight is obviously not a Wicked cover (thank goodness!), though it's quite diverse with all you can hear from the more progressive and melodic bands:
Easily the worst track Illidiance has ever done. "I Want to Believe" is a far better ballad-ish song than this sh*t:
A highlight from this EP, exemplifying the band's true sound:
An annihilating highlight of extreme symphonic industrial/cyber metal:
I can enjoy the symphonic darkness in the synth-filled highlight:
As a Malaysian, I have heard of Cromok, but haven't gotten around to really listening to that band. I actually didn't know until now that they formed in Australia. Sadly, two of the founding members passed away over the years. RIP Din and Miji
A Spotify playlist I've made based on my Neurotech favorite tracks list: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fe4e87QJUw8Ej9JxkUUEu
After my Neurotech album reviewing marathon, I thought I would share my top 20 favorite tracks from that band:
1. (Ultra) Us - Infra Versus Ultra (2014)
2. Part II - Revelation - Blue Screen Planet (2011)
3. Memory Eternal - Memory Eternal (2024)
4. To Theta State - Stigma (2015)
5. Atlas - Infra Versus Ultra (2014)
6. Echoes of the Fall - Memory Eternal (2024)
7. The Halcyon Symphony - Symphonies (2016)
8. The Serpent Bites - Ave Neptune (2023)
9. The Messianic Symphony - Symphonies II (2022)
10. We Are the Last - Antagonist (2011)
11. At a Standstill - The Catalyst (2017)
12. Light Betides - Solace (2021)
13. Decipher - The Decipher Volumes (2013)
14. Through Hardships - Stigma (2015)
15. Ectogenesis - Unreleased Demos (2011 - 2016) (2020)
16. The Lost Hope - In Remission (2016)
17. Transhuman - Transhuman (2008)
18. The Cyber Waltz - The Decipher Volumes (2013)
19. Sleepwalker's Lifeline - The Catalyst (2017)
20. Uplift - Evasive (2015)
And now for one of the most diverse one-man projects in industrial/cyber metal, coming from Slovenia:
Neurotech (including EPs that aren't compiled in albums)
1. Stigma
2. Infra Versus Ultra
3. Ave Neptune
4. Symphonies
5. Memory Eternal
6. Solace
7. The Decipher Volumes
8. Symphonies II
9. The Catalyst
10. Unreleased Demos (2011 - 2016)
11. Blue Screen Planet
12. In Remission
13. Antagonist
14. Transhuman
15. Evasive
Pretty much everything Neurotech fans love is in in this 8-minute progressive cyber metal monumental epic:
A powerful anthem and one of the best in this new and improved Neurotech:
A potential instant classic from the Stigma era:
A perfect 4-minute summary of the project's journey in the last album of the first part of Neurotech's career:
Many different acts woven together for one of the best epics done by Neurotech or any other artist:
An outstanding symphonic/cyber metal composition take your soul through a galactic adventure:
This epic highlight practically follows the footsteps of that Evasive track above:
The only track from Neurotech's electronic album Evasive to have enough of an industrial metal vibe for this thread:
An 11-minute ambient electronic instrumental that marks a perfect mini-journey of darkness and hope:
One of the only true highlights in this decent but bland very beginning of Neurotech's career:
The second third of Bellum Interruptum has arrived! Below are my thoughts on the tracks.
1. Bellum Interruptum - 10:42
2. On the Wings of Vecterra - 6:01
3. Invictus Thales - 7:04
The title track is my favorite track of this part, one of the best Mechina tracks I've heard in ages, a 10-minute epic that includes a spine-chillingly beautiful two-minute bridge in the middle. "On the Wings of Vecterra" comes close, JUST CLOSE, to surpassing the previous track, and this time the female vocals are mostly from Treasur Necole, who I'm guessing is Necole Wright from Venator's "Totemic", plus some wild shredding soloing by Dean Paul Arnold. "Invictus Thales" makes me think of Xenon's "Thales" along with "Invictus" by Neurotech in the title, but the song itself is different from those two, adding in some more of Dave Lowmiller's growls in duet with Mel Rose's cleans. At this point I have a feeling that Lowmiller really is replacing David Holch as the band's growling vocalist, though maybe Holch would appear in one of the tracks in the 3rd and final part premiering next week. That's what I'm hoping for along with "When Honor Meant Something" appearing in that part. I would be shocked if it doesn't. Stay tuned...
THE GATEWAY: Lacuna Coil - Karmacode (2006) 3/5
THE GUARDIANS: Trail of Tears - Winds of Disdain (2024) 5/5
THE INFINITE: Persefone - Aathma (2017) 4.5/5
THE NORTH: Stormlord - At the Gates of Utopia (2001) 4.5/5
THE REVOLUTION: Shadow of Intent - Melancholy (2019) 5/5
THE SPHERE: Neurotech - Ave Neptune (2023) 4.5/5
This month has been a wild ride through all of the feature releases for my clans, plus two feature releases outside my clans that had to be nominated by me due to Xephyr's departure from major activity in the site. They're all quite awesome except for The Gateway feature release that didn't hit me as well as it once did when I first heard it 10 years ago. Still I would recommend them all to fans of their respective genres. Keep up the good work on the feature releases, all!
Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:
Accept - "Metal Heart" from Metal Heart (1985)
4.5/5. 40 years ago, this is what metalheads call a banger, and I agree with them. I love how they added in some classical themes from Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.
Capilla Ardiente - "The Hands of Fate Around My Neck" from Where Gods Live and Men Die (2024)
4/5. A doomy heavy metal epic. Enough said!
Throne of Iron - "Past the Doors of Death" from Adventure One (2020)
3.5/5. Same with this one, though here it has a more galloping pace.
Savatage - "Strange Reality" from Streets - A Rock Opera (1991)
4/5. Another melodic heavy metal highlight to sing along to.
Sabaton - "Unbreakable" from The Art of War (2008)
4.5/5. This progressive highlight is one of the best songs I've heard by Sabaton, and I still think that today. It's the band's own Black Sabbath "Heaven and Hell"!
Heavenly - "Sign of the Winner" from Sign of the Winner (2001)
5/5. Absolute power metal greatness with superb guitarwork by Frédéric Leclercq who would later become the bassist for DragonForce.
Blind Guardian - "Nightfall" from Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
4.5/5. I still know this track as a power metal classic, better than that d*mn "Bard's Song". This is how I knew the character Morgoth before the German death metal band.
Saxon - "Crusader" from Crusader (1984)
4/5. Anyone into NWOBHM, join the Saxon crusade!
Medieval Steel - "Medieval Steel" from Medieval Steel (1984, reissued on The Dungeon Tapes (2005))
4.5/5. I hope this doesn't sound sinful, but this track sounds like Twisted Sister gone Riot/Omen. That said, it really rocks out as a metal hymn. It's practically the band's own theme song! Not all heroes wear capes; some wield swords or play metal. Classic heavy metal can be quite interesting.
Lethal - "Arrival" from Programmed (1990)
4/5. Classic tracks like this still exist. Keep it real!
Taramis - "Doesn't Seem" from Queen of Thieves (1988)
4.5/5. Cool 80s progressive power metal right there!
Conception - "Silent Crying" from Parallel Minds (1993)
5/5. A fantastic out-of-this world ballad, and I don't usually say that about ballads. I haven't heard Conception until, but I'm glad there's the beauty of Roy Khan's singing before he joined Kamelot. Such a wonderful piece! From what I heard, Conception is kinda like a more progressive take on Khan's early years with Kamelot. They've recently returned with a new EP and album. The ballad reminds me of the ones by early Nevermore and Crimson Glory. There's nothing cheesy in this plate!
Rampage - "Benevolent Approach" from Acid Storm demo (1986, reissued on Veil of Mourn (1988))
4.5/5. After that slow ballad, we go fast again with this pretty amazing heavy/speed metal demo track.
Brocas Helm - "Fly High" from Black Death (1988)
4/5. Another great hymn with slight hints of Iron Maiden.
Attacker - "Battle at Helm Deep" from Downfall (1985)
3.5/5. 80s US power metal, closer to classic heavy metal, before Stratovarius and Hammerfall stormed in from Europe.
Destiny's End - "Breathe Deep the Dark" from Breathe Deep the Dark (1998)
4/5. In the 90s, Iced Earth and Destiny's End were still cranking up their classic heavy/US power metal sound. You might also know James Rivera as the vocalist of Helstar.
Concerto Moon - "The Gold Digger" from Back Beyond Time (2023)
3.5/5. Pretty good, but a little goofy for a band keeping up the Japanese power/neoclassical metal scene started by Galneryus.
Vitalij Kuprij - "Piano Overture" from Forward & Beyond (2004)
4/5. RIP Vitalij Kuprij. Enjoy this cool cover of Moonlight Sonata with Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo.
Within Temptation - "Caged" from Mother Earth (2000)
4.5/5. Then we have the slow folk-ish highlight "Caged". Both the vocals by Sharon den Adel and the instrumentation are quite diverse. The peaceful calmness are at the right dose here, before it all ends up crashing down later in the original album.
Nightwish - "Ghost Love Score" from Once (2004)
4.5/5. The true epic of this playlist and its original album, and very much everything the album has already offered is blended together greatly. First we have a couple verses with more of the Eastern sitar, then it slows down to a ballad-like section, and after that, we have a lovely orchestral break that is well-executed. Immediately when the metal comes back on, you're hit by one of the most epic moments in symphonic metal, right before Tarja continues singing. And the rest is memorable too.
Mechina - "When Honor Meets Steel" from Venator (2022)
5/5. An aggressive way to head out than can pulverize those earlier melodic tracks, complete with blasts and more growls, most of them coming from guest vocalist Anna Hel. So brutally awesome!
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!
With Xephyr having stepped down from major activity in the site and none of the other Guardians members seeming to be up to taking over The Guardians playlist (based on no response), I decided to step in with Daniel's approval and allowing me to be a collaborator, at least for now until we can find a Guardians member who can manage the playlist full-time. I also included all the unused submissions from January and February in the half-a-month-late March playlist, so consider it a special suggestions-filled playlist. For future playlists though, I'd like to note a few things. I'll still do the usual monthly schedule, so I can release new playlists on April, May, June etc., because I enjoy making the playlists and have a lot of time in my hands, and I want to keep those playlists active in the uncommon chance of attracting new listeners of these genres. Though I might skip a month or a few if I end up busy in the outside world with a job or a college course like when I had that break a couple years ago. Contributions are always welcome, but the one track per non-clan member rule still stands for the sake of the playlist's legitimacy, though if you send me two or 3 submissions that are all by bands I'm familiar with and enjoy, I can accept them all. While the recommended deadline is the 15th of each month, I'm flexible enough to allow one submission after that date. The maximum deadline is the second-to-last day of the month (clarified in the deadline list below), so I can have time in the last day of the month to finalize the playlist and get it ready for when a new month dawns. If anyone has comments about this, please let me know here or PM me. Let's hope the playlists can stay alive!
Deadlines for next few months' playlists after the April one:
May playlist: recommended - April 15, maximum - April 29
June playlist: recommended - May 15, maximum - May 30
July playlist: recommended - June 15, maximum - June 29
And so on, until a new Guardians member wants to take control of the playlist.
March 2025
1. Accept - "Metal Heart" from Metal Heart (1985) [Suggested by Karl]
2. Capilla Ardiente - "The Hands of Fate Around My Neck" from Where Gods Live and Men Die (2024) [Suggested by Karl]
3. Throne of Iron - "Past the Doors of Death" from Adventure One (2020) [Suggested by Karl]
4. Savatage - "Strange Reality" from Streets - A Rock Opera (1991) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
5. Sabaton - "Unbreakable" from The Art of War (2008) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
6. Heavenly - "Sign of the Winner" from Sign of the Winner (2001)
7. Blind Guardian - "Nightfall" from Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
8. Saxon - "Crusader" from Crusader (1984) [Suggested by Karl]
9. Medieval Steel - "Medieval Steel" from Medieval Steel (1984, reissued on The Dungeon Tapes (2005)) [Suggested by Karl]
10. Lethal - "Arrival" from Programmed (1990) [Suggested by Karl]
11. Taramis - "Doesn't Seem" from Queen of Thieves (1988)
12. Conception - "Silent Crying" from Parallel Minds (1993) [Suggested by Daniel]
13. Rampage - "Benevolent Approach" from Acid Storm demo (1986, reissued on Veil of Mourn (1988)) [Suggested by Daniel]
14. Brocas Helm - "Fly High" from Black Death (1988) [Suggested by Karl]
15. Attacker - "Battle at Helm Deep" from Downfall (1985) [Suggested by Karl]
16. Destiny's End - "Breathe Deep the Dark" from Breathe Deep the Dark (1998) [Suggested by Karl]
17. Concerto Moon - "The Gold Digger" from Back Beyond Time (2023)
18. Vitalij Kuprij - "Piano Overture" from Forward & Beyond (2004)
19. Within Temptation - "Caged" from Mother Earth (2000)
20. Nightwish - "Ghost Love Score" from Once (2004) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
21. Mechina - "When Honor Meets Steel" from Venator (2022)
Whitechapel's brutal roots are back, especially in the album's title highlight:
Oh dear... Hope things won't go that serious. All the best, Zach.
Featuring harmonic soloing by Doc Coyle from God Forbid and Bad Wolves, this is the new Bleeding Through album's ultimate highlight of melody and intensity:
My renewed interest in melodic/symphonic/progressive death metal really shows as I discover more bands of that sound such as this German tech-death band:
And this Chicago-based melodeath/symphonic power metal band:
Melodic metalcore supergroup formed by the talented Howard Jones, formerly of Killswitch Engage, with some melodic yet heavy moments similar to his time with KSE:
Wicked new single by this alt-metal/rock band from Maryland:
Ben, please add A Day to Remember's Big Ole Album Vol. 1, along with their 2021 album You're Welcome to bridge the gap.
The new Mechina album Bellum Interruptum has arrived! Or at least the first third of it. And so far, it's shaping up quite well as another great offering of epic cyber metal. Here's the first part that has just premiered, and below are my thoughts on the tracks:
1. Cruelty is the Point - 5:03
2. The Plague Pit - 5:22
3. The Wasteful Energy of Words - 6:27
"Cruelty is the Point" throws back to the Venator era nicely with the serene vocals of Mel Rose. "The Plague Pit" is my favorite track of this part, a powerful djenty banger that reminds me of a futuristic Arch Enemy with the crushing growls of Anna Hel. "The Wasteful Energy of Words" is a duet between Mel Rose and Dave Lowmiller, similarly to the single "When Honor Meant Something" which I hope would also appear in the full album. And maybe we'll also have David Holch somewhere in the next two parts. Or are Anna Hel and/or Dave Lowmiller the new growlers? More coming up through the next two weeks, so stay tuned...
Ben, please add League of Distortion.
Ben, please add Pridian.