Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

While we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album that boosted Slipknot's popularity, it's also the 20th anniversary of metalcore/hardcore masters Hatebreed's 4th album that would level up their own popularity in their one-time deal with Roadrunner Records:

Symphony X with cyber metal influence? Not what I would predict, but a good possibility. It would be interesting hearing notable Guardians/Infinite bands like Symphony X take on a Mechina-esque direction.

August 26, 2016 has got to be one of the most special days of 2010s metal, with even more releases from that day than from that other special day (August 7, 2001), including some of the more melodic albums from that year that I like, mostly from The Guardians (well I haven't checked out that Helstar album yet, but maybe someday):

Coming hopefully next year: Symphony X album X!

Meanwhile, celebrating its 20th anniversary is this gothic metal album from the more melodic and upbeat end of the Fallen spectrum:

Along with one of the more underrated symphonic metal albums out there:

I know how much praise Altars of Madness has gotten all over the metal realms, but I'd pick Consuming Impulse any day. Not only is it one of the few standard death metal albums that I absolutely love, but it would also lead to Pestilence's more technical/progressive material from their next album Testimony of the Ancients onwards.

Altars Of Madness 4 - Consuming Impulse 1

Two modern Pit classics celebrating their 15th anniversary. I should revisit that Revocation album sometime.

Ben, please add You Will Die.

That certain release being this Lorna Shore EP that helped me get into epic deathcore even more. Glad I remembered!

Here's the actual SLAB! album on YouTube, Xephyr. If it wasn't for this upload, I wouldn't have found this release nor featured it:

So today we celebrate the 5x anniversary of two releases that are total gamechangers when it comes to symphonics in metal. The first release is the one that sealed Therion as pioneers of symphonic metal:

And one of the most brutal metal albums to include symphonics that would put Fleshgod Apocalypse on the symphonic death metal throne shared with Septicflesh:

As much as I love those two albums though, I was already into those band's respective genres and they didn't make as huge of an impact to my metal path as the main reason for this post...

Happy 15th anniversary to the Trivium album that first got me into metalcore and other modern heavier metal genres! Glad I remembered it this time and didn't have to wait 5 more years. And I might check out that Greeley Estates album as well. Stay tuned later this week or so for the 5th anniversary of a certain symphonic deathcore release that probably wouldn't have existed or been the same without those Therion and Fleshgod Apocalypse albums...

Ben, please add the new Xandria album Eclipse.

With those masterpieces made by Maudlin of the Well and Neurosis, along with Cult of Luna's debut mentioned the other day, the first week of August 2001 was a fantastic one for Infinite releases (among albums from other clans). And just before the second week of August that will mark the 5x-year anniversary of my personal milestone releases (Trivium and Lorna Shore). Soooo close!

Submission accepted! Thanks, Sonny.

Ben, please add the new Eleine EP We Stand United.

Here's my submission for the September Pit playlist, Vinny:

DevilDriver - "Devil's Son" (from DevilDriver, 2003)

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

Like other famous metal bands that have existed for around half a century, the 80s was known as the band's pinnacle of fame and glory, then the 90s was when the quality dropped and gradually withered into forgettable oblivion. And the second half of the decade didn't even involve the widely-revered vocalist Bruce Dickinson whose temporary replacement was Blaze Bayley. Then when Mr. Dickinson came back to the band along with guitarist Adrian Smith, the result for this album is what's been hailed by many as a return to their earlier form of melodic anthems. And they're certainly right about that! The guitar melody and Dickinson's vocal power help perfectly exemplify their sound, and so do the drums and bass. The tracks that range from short bangers to long epics can certainly make a metalhead's day, though a couple off-putting tracks towards the end could've been trimmed or taken out to make a perfect experience. Nonetheless, the album is full of high-energy anthems that have made me understand how essential the band is. For many longtime fans, it is a comeback, but for the newer listeners such as myself, it's indeed a brave new world to explore....

4/5

August 4 is a different story though, with a couple releases that helped me get into their respective genres (post-sludge, deathcore):

Though they're not the huge personal milestones that those Trivium and Lorna Shore releases are for me, we're so close to their anniversary dates!

Ben, please add these bands:

Deadheaven (Russian cyber metal/melodic metalcore band)

Sphere (Norwegian melodeath/cyber/progressive metal band)

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

Celldweller - "Respawn" (4:01) from GOD MODE level 02: Respawn (2026)

Fear Factory - "Autonomous Combat System" (5:28) from Genexus (2015)

Mechina - "Non Serviam" (3:44) from Conqueror (2011)

Psyclon Nine - "Off With Their Heads" (4:23) from Less Than Heaven (2022)

Synthetic Breed - "Mirrored Reflections" (6:43) from Perpetual Motion Machine (2010)

Turmion Katilot - "Raivotarjonta" (3:17) from Raivotarjonta (2026)

Total length: 27:36

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

36 Crazyfists - "Elysium" (3:03) from Rest Inside the Flames (2006)

The Acacia Strain - "Sin" (3:59) from It Comes in Waves (2019)

Cave In - "Terminal Deity" (3:13) from Until Your Heart Stops (1998)

God Forbid - "Into the Wasteland" (3:59) from IV: Constitution of Treason (2005)

Mental Cruelty - "Mundus Vult Decipi" (5:16) from Inferis (2019)

Shadows Fall - "The Art of Balance" (4:46) from The Art of Balance (2002)

War of Ages - "Stone by Stone" (4:56) from Pride of the Wicked (2006)

Total length: 29:12

Here are my submissions for the September Infinite playlist:

Kayo Dot - "Mirror Water, Lightning Night" (5:33) from Gamma Knife (2012)

Myrath - "Madness" (6:18) from Desert Call (2010)

Protest the Hero - "The Mariner" (7:29) from Within (2026)

Redemption - "Let It Rain" (7:22) from This Mortal Coil (2011)

Total length: 26:42

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

Amberian Dawn - "Crimson Flower" (4:23) from Circus Black (2012)

Celesty - "Arrival" (4:43) from Mortal Mind Creation (2006)

Falconer - "Black Moon Rising" (5:10) from Black Moon Rising (2014)

Fairyland - "The Story Remains" (10:38) from The Fall of an Empire (2006)

Tyr - "The Lay of Our Love" (3:47) from Valkyrja (2013)

Total length: 28:41

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

ALTUS Sound Team, ATLUS GAME MUSIC - "Ephemeral" from Shin Megami Tensei V Original Soundtrack (2021)

2.5/5. It is sometimes hard for me to be able to find enough industrial metal tracks to fit into a two-hour playlist, so I'd just pick anything from a random release in the Sphere clan page. I guess this works as an ambient intro for this playlist, but quite a rough start. And I can imagine some listeners having the same thought. Don't worry though, there are better tracks to come...

Dawn of Ashes - "The Serpent of Eden" from The Crypt Injection II (Non Serviam) (2019)

3/5. Here we start with some blackened electro-industrial metal. Try playing this during a Christian family outing. Let me know how it goes. ...Yeah, maybe don't. Anyway, this kind of electronic darkness I actually prefer to hear from Psyclon Nine. That being said, there's great intensity during the bridge that covers the last one or two minutes.

Rammstein - "Links 2 3 4" from Mutter (2001)

3.5/5. A more well-known single with political lyrics by the band to brush aside the earlier Nazi allegations, "They want my heart in the right place, but then I look below, it beats to the left." The music marches through, especially in the chorus with a more choral vibe. Not really enough to be a standout despite its goodness.

Rob Zombie - "F.T.W. 84" from The Great Satan (2026)

4/5. A f***ing killer anthem from the Great Satan, the Great Mr. Zombie!

Julien-K - "Waking Up" from SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK (2006)

4.5/5. Another song from a game soundtrack, and this time an actual industrial rock/metal song! You may know this band not just because it's an Orgy spin-off project but also from their association with the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. So while Crush 40 has made theme songs for Sonic, Julien-K has made one for Shadow. This may also fit well in The Matrix or a Marvel movie or... Sonic the Hedgehog 3! How could they not add that song in that movie's soundtrack?! I think when Chester helped produce the band's 2009 debut is what gave him the idea for the more electronic direction in A Thousand Suns. That and both groups' collab in the side-project Dead by Sunrise.

Turmion Katilot - "Sikiö" from Universal Satan (2018)

5/5. One of the best songs I've heard from this album and the band's discography. Holy h*ll, what a total gem, and a genuine reason for the album's full 5-star rating!

Fear Factory - "Christploitation" from Mechanize (2010)

4.5/5. Hitting things harder is this song that's furious enough to obliterate some of the earlier ones in this playlist. That's quite a lot of heaviness so far, and it's amazing!

Synthetic Breed - "Neuro Connectivity" from Catatonic (2008)

5/5. I'm glad to finally get into listening to this djenty industrial metal band with some hints at death/groove metal. Just don't get it confused with Sybreed from Switzerland.

The Clay People - "Plug" from The Clay People (1998)

4.5/5. Another underrated piece of industrial rock/metal. The Clay People were mixing that genre with alt-metal shortly before Static-X and, to a lesser extent, Disturbed.

Halo - "Filling the Empty Spaces With Cash" from Body of Light (2003)

4/5. I'm not totally into the more drone-ish industrial metal, but this one has great potential.

1000 Homo DJs - "Supernaut (Trent Vocals)" from Trax Box (1990/2015)

3.5/5. I've added this track to a Sphere playlist before, though that one was the official version with Ministry's Al Jourgensen on vocals. This original version is sung by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, replaced in the original EP due to record label issues.

Combichrist - "Broken United" from One Fire (2019)

3/5. The blend of electronics and guitars may be reminiscent of a heavier Icon of Coil. A bit boring, reminding me how glad I am that my teenage years were filled with melodic upbeat power metal instead of overly electronic sh*t.

Motionless in White - "Voices" from Graveyard Shift (2017)

3.5/5. There are still some good tracks made by this band, this one well-executed in the lyrics, especially in the verses. It's so kick-A, it can be a UFC fighter's victory song.

Youth Code, King Yosef, Matt Pike - "Head Underwater" from A Skeleton Key in the Doors of Depression (2021)

4/5. Wow, they were really high on fire in this track! And that pun was intended because it features that band's frontman Matt Pike.

Lord of the Lost - "La Vie Est Hell" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 (2026)

4.5/5. This one is based on Les Fleurs du Mal, complete with some French singing by Kissin' Dynamite vocalist Hannes Braun. It's filled with beautiful melancholy, which is kinda what I'm looking for in a ballad.

In This Moment - "Crawl" from Crawl (2026)

4.5/5. In This Moment's new album Witch will come out later this month, and it sounds like they're going more industrial than ever before.

KMFDM - "Flesh" from Nihil (1995)

4/5. This one is slower in the verses, but speeds up in the chorus and definitely towards the end.

Strapping Young Lad - "Dirt Pride" from Strapping Young Lad (2003)

4.5/5. "DIRT PRIDE!!! MY PRIDE!!!" A wild song from the Hevy Devy archives.

Psyclon Nine - "And With Fire" from Icon of the Adversary (2018)

5/5. With metal fire there's electronic air, formed together in sinister darkness.

Toxic Grind Machine - "Hymnlock" from Embryonic Emission (2012)

4.5/5. Then the darkness has some cyber light to make a futuristic hymn.

Vortech - "The Dark City" from The Shadow Presence (2022)

4/5. But it's still a dark city, you'll have to embrace the present shadow.

Mechina - "Planetfall" from Progenitor (2016)

4.5/5. Anyone who thinks mixing metal genres together doesn't work is wrong. Mechina have made their own cauldron of epic destruction and brought in Dean Arnold (Primal Frost/Vital Remains) for a guitar solo at the end. Absolute intense and can fit well for a space war. Even Fear Factory hasn't been this crushing! And that blend of speed and orchestration has got to be what planted the seed for symphonic blackened deathcore bands like Lorna Shore.

Daedalean Complex - "A Garden of Lies" from After the Fall (2017)

4/5. After the planet's fall lies a garden of lies. Nice sorrowful gothic-infused blackened industrial metal there.

Jacob Lizotte - "THE GREY" from THE GREY (2026)

4.5/5. From the killer intro to the pleasant outro, Jacob Lizotte still has his talent in the music after his Dark Matter album. As amazing and diverse this track is, the vocals could've had a small boost in volume to make this 100% perfect.

Celldweller, SWARM, REEBZ - "Fakebreaker" from Fakebreaker (2025)

5/5. Celldweller made a crushing collab with SWARM and REEBZ that really shows Klayton's talent and ability that he's had throughout the project's 25-year tenure.

Sielwolf - "Antimon #3" from Metastasen (1994)

4.5/5. Now how about an experimental epic before the final track?

Neurotech - "No Matter the Rain" from In Delta Negative (2026)

4/5. It sometimes pains me that my love for some bands and projects don't last long. But no matter the pain or rain, Neurotech deserves to be recognized and remembered.

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 selected tracks:

Born of Osiris - "Machine" from Tomorrow We Die Alive (2013)

4/5. Although I haven't listened to much Born of Osiris lately, this is still a solid track from the band. A true example of technical metal/deathcore with shredtastic soloing!

Hope for the Dying - "Vacillation" from Dissimulation (2011)

4.5/5. It makes the perfect transition to this track with all its extreme technical speed. The screams and cleans are all in brilliant balance, already giving you all of this album's greatness to come. Then it all fades to orchestra and piano to get you ready for a heavy transition into the next track.

Silent Civilian - "The Song Remains Un-Named" from Rebirth of the Temple (2006)

5/5. The song remains one of the best of 2000s melodic metalcore, showing the genre in its true form.

Adept - "Heaven" from Blood Covenant (2025)

4.5/5. Melodic metalcore can never be the same as it was in the 2000s, yet it can spawn some heavenly tracks like this one.

ten56. - "Pig" from Pig (2025)

4/5. Some of the darkest lyrics and most aggressive I've heard in modern metalcore, targeted towards abusive b****rds that deserve to be hated.

Unearth - "My Will Be Done" from The March (2008)

4.5/5. This one really shows the melody right way. The whammy bar used in the solo must be inspired by Dimebag Darrell, and I think the band toured with Damageplan when that band was still active and Dimebag was still alive. Great tribute! RIP Dimebag.

7 Angels 7 Plagues - "A Farewell to a Perfect Score" from Jhazmyne's Lullaby (2001)

5/5. The drums and riffing start off simple before going reckless. The melodies really bring together beauty and brutality. The heaviness doesn't stop until at the end with a soft clean break from the intensity.

Shadows Fall - "To Ashes" from Somber Eyes to the Sky (1997)

4.5/5. Then there's probably the best song of this Shadows Fall album. The guitars and vocals both alternate between clean and distorted. For any All That Remains fans wondering, that's rhythm guitarist Matt Bachand doing the clean vocals, not Labonte who doesn't start doing clean vocals until the switch to metalcore for All That Remains. The guitar work on this song is great too.

Fear of Domination - "Last Words" from Katharsis (2026)

4/5. This groovy track is heavy in both the metal and the electronics. I can predict that song being a live staple!

Bleed from Within - "Flesh and Stone" from Shrine (2022)

4.5/5. "Why mourn the past when it’s the future that’s dead?" This is one of the best singles from the album Shrine, and I enjoy the death/black metal-ish experimentation.

Motionless in White - "To Keep From Getting Burned" from When Love Met Destruction (2009)

4/5. Motionless in White started off with some emo vibes in the clean singing alongside some colorful electronic keys, close to electronicore.

Impending Doom - "Towards the Light" from Towards the Light (2025)

4.5/5. Impending Doom has made some of the most brutal bangers in Christian deathcore, and there may be more of them in their upcoming album. The lyrics are quite heavy too, unleashing a(n un)holy battle cry.

Humanity's Last Breath - "Earthless" from Valde (2021)

5/5. This highlight shall make the most emotionless listener become emotional from this brutality.

Mental Cruelty - "Eternal Eclipse" from A Hill to Die Upon (2021)

4.5/5. Same thing with this one, going savage with their symphonic deathcore.

Worm Shepherd - "The Dying Heavens" from The Sleeping Sun (2023)

5/5. The best place for atmosphere and melody is this epic standout, all the while having blackened brutality. Purdue's guitar talents reach high levels of strength there.

Hollow Front - "LOST BOY" from Homewrecker (2017)

4.5/5. Modern metalcore insanity, the way it's meant to be done. I feel the urge to scream along to those vocals, and "I'VE LOST MY MIND!!!" almost made me lose my sh*t. Lots of talent here to blow me away, especially in the breakdown at over the one-minute mark. Some f***ing killer stuff, man. Thumbs up!

Bad Omens - "The Worst in Me" from Bad Omens (2016)

4/5. Even when I'm far off from listening to this band anymore, this song can still be a blessing.

ERRA - "Prometheus" from Augment (2013)

4.5/5. One of ERRA's best songs, an amazing track!

Northlane - "Dispossession" from Discoveries (2011)

5/5. The brief technical bass intro might catch some people off-guard, but the drums, guitars, and vocals make a perfect entrance! They kick things up to high gear without slowing down much. The band can really balance riff melody and killer breakdowns without ever wimping out.

Dark Divine - "Permanent" from Permanent (2026)

4.5/5. Seems like the "horror metalcore" scene is in full motion with the 3 leading bands of the pack; Dark Divine, Motionless in White, and Ice Nine Kills. The screams are so chilling, while the cleans are so calming, with the latter having wider range. A relationship may not be permanent, but the scars from it might be. I can hear some vibes from Dead by April and Beartooth. My only complaint is here is about the slight repetition.

Imminence - "False Light" from False Light (2026)

5/5. Total heavy darkness! This new Imminence album is gonna be a riot.

Resistor - "DEAD SOUL" from DEAD SOUL (2026)

4.5/5. The powerful weight of this aggressive track is so crushing.

Thrown - "Split" from Split (2026)

4/5. Thrown can also unleash ravaging aggression in just a brief length of two minutes.

Ion Dissonance - "Failure in the Process of Identifying a Dream" from Breathing is Irrelevant (2003)

4.5/5. It's never too late for mathcore chaos! Amazing lyrics and riffing, the latter especially at the f***ing killer ending.

Knut - "Torvalds" from Terraformer (2005)

5/5. And more of that mathcore chaos in this band. RIP Didier Séverin...

August Burns Red - "Sonic Salvation" from Season of Surrender (2026)

5/5. This shredtastic highlight has some oriental vibes. Polaris vocalist Jamie Hails unleashes his screams, even duetting with Jake Luhrs. The lyric "I NEED AN OUTLET FOR MY ANGER!!!" couldn't have been any more fitting for both vocalists' raging output. When Hails does his cleans, they're some of the only parts of the new ABR album having clean singing. Despite ending so quickly after all that blasting, it's perhaps one of the best metalcore tracks of the year!

The Plot in You - "Carved" from The Plot in You (2026)

4.5/5. What's one more beautiful banger before the brutal last leg of this playlist? There are some similar vibes to Volumes' more alt-ish tracks.

Emmure - "Drug Dealer Friend" from Speaker of the Dead (2011)

4/5. This is around the time when Emmure was still just sitting on the heavy side of the metalcore/deathcore fence, kinda like August Burns Red and Parkway Drive but with much less melody. Controversial lyrics aside, this one slays.

The Acacia Strain - "Cthulhu" from Continent (2008)

4.5/5. Another f***ing beast of a song, though we still have one more track to top off to brutality...

Whitechapel - "Articulo Mortis" from The Somatic Defilement (2007)

5/5. The vocal layers work the best here, especially at the end when vocalist Phil Bozeman says "And then you rot" in both his high screams and low growls before fading into feedback. Ain't that a spine-chilling way to end!

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!

Ben, have you experienced these errors when developing the upcoming new site? If you haven't, then let's hope for not just the new site to be completed and available for us to migrate, but also for a smooth error-free experience there.

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

The Contortionist – Clairvoyant (2017)

4.5/5. The Contortionist has taken on a much more ethereal and lighter sound in this album, almost like Mastodon at that time. I like the melodic bridge at over the 4-minute mark that leads to mystical keys over a minute later. That's the kind of sound they first hinted in their previous album Language.

Coroner – Trinity (2025)

5/5. The best progressiveness comes in this highlight with its perfect mix of atmosphere and heaviness.

Fallujah – Hollow (2019)

4.5/5. Undying Light has been sh*t on by fans due to the different vocalist and the simpler less technical sound. To be honest though, I like the vocals. And sure the guitars don't have that heavy technicality, but at least they have more clarity.

Gorod – Remains (2026)

5/5. Progressive tech-death fans are happy to get new material from this band and Psycroptic. And I'm certainly happy to discover this gem from Gorod that has made up for more of this band. Apparently this has sampled one of the tracks from the Jean-Michel Jarre album Oxygene. F***ing awesome standout, man! The melody and technicality are both in great balance. The ending is especially spectacular. Thumbs up for that one!

Ihlo – Parhelion (2019)

4.5/5. This already appeared in last November's Infinite playlist, but I don't mind giving it another spin. Lots of insane synthy prog-metal talent! A nice stylistic homage to Periphery from start to finish.

In Vain – En forgangen tid (2018)

5/5. Not many people know this underrated band, but those who do may also know this d*mn beautiful highlight as the sequel to the previous album's "Times of Yore". Although I don't mind the Norwegian lyrics, I would love to hear some English lyrics. Still I won't ask for any changes in this song. RIP Sindre Nedland...

Ne Obliviscaris – Suspyre (2023)

4.5/5. This one doesn't have the diverse surprises I was expecting in a 10-minute track, or in a Ne Obliviscaris song, but it still rules.

The Ocean – Belligerence Pt. 1 & 2 (2026)

4/5. The Ocean will soon release their 10th album in over 25-year career, and the first with their new lineup, Solaris. Even when they're past their gelogical time period phase, they can still make a banger about a different topic.

Protest the Hero – Grandfather’s Axe (2026)

4.5/5. Another kick-A track, adding in some thrash/speed aspects. The vocals by Rody Walker still impress me.

Threshold – Narcissus (2001)

5/5. I'm glad to finally get the appeal of melodic progressive metal bands like Threshold. This one's an absolutely superb epic! I'm honestly surprised Threshold hasn't gotten the amount of fame Dream Theater has. Midway through is a two-minute melancholic piano bridge that leads into astonishing instrumentation and soloing. And before you know it, we get one more verse and one more of that legendary chorus before ending with the final bit of soloing, tuned half-step down. Although there are two more tracks after this in the playlist, I'll end my commenting here, to go off on a high note. RIP Andrew "Mac" McDermott....

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Tyr - "Gates of Hel" from Hel (2019)

5/5. The 7-minute opener of this Tyr album would be quite a surprise for any longtime fan of the band, particularly in the first one or two minutes. The riffing sounds so crushing and deathly, complete with harsh vocals performed by Heri Joensen himself! Some might think, "What is this, Amon Amarth?!?" Anyway, that part is as fantastic as the rest of this song. I would love to hear more heavy growl-infused tracks like that from the band.

Versailles - "Shadows Fang" from Lineage ～薔薇の末裔～(2017)

4.5/5. And now for this amazing track that is practically "Catharsis" 2.0! It sounds so beautiful and I like the lyrics alternating between Japanese and a bit of English. Although I don't understand a lot of Japanese, the occasional dip into English has helped guide me through those lyrics.

Judas Priest - "Freewheel Burning" from Defenders of the Faith (1984)

4/5. When it comes to 80s classic heavy metal, Judas Priest hit hard and fast. And some of that speed is in the bridge sung by Rob Halford, practically rivalling today's rappers. Absolutely wild, in both the music and lyrics!

Omen - "Death Rider" from Battle Cry (1984)

4.5/5. In the 1980s, metal wasn't just about the music but also the aesthetic. An eye-catching album cover would lure metalhead teenagers in and discover this excellent music. Omen's late vocalist J.D. Kimball was apparently one of many metal vocalists taught by vocal coach Elizabeth Sabine, alongside the more famous (or infamous) Axl Rose and Dave Mustaine. This track may remind some of old-school Iron Maiden. Omen may not be as popular as those other mid-80s metal bands, but they sure helped shape the scene. I wasn't born yet in that generation, yet I can still dream and fantasize about it. J.D. Kimball's voice has that lower rasp that's underrated in this style of metal that typically has bands with high falsetto vocalists. Even though he's gone now, his work shall live on and stay immortal. Oh, and this not to be confused with Anthrax's song "Deathrider" from their debut the same year. RIP JD Kimball...

Grave Digger - "Bone Collector" from Bone Collector (2025)

5/5. I discovered this band a year before this comment but quickly brushed them off because I still wasn't ready to make my move to The Guardians. And now I'm like, "Why the f*** did I do that?!" Brush them off, I mean. The riffing and lyrics are so fantastic! I need to listen to more of this band for real, because that riffing I'll never get tired of. Like pure kick-A heavy metal, none of the overly extreme deathgrind from other bands. And really I don't care that the new album has AI cover artwork (though I understand those who care), just as long as the music is as real and authentic as it has been for all those decades. Vocalist Chris Boltendahl is still doing quite well too.

LOUDNESS - "THE LAW OF DEVIL'S LAND" from THE LAW OF DEVIL'S LAND (1983)

4.5/5. It's a shame that my vocal range isn't that great, nor can I understand Japanese. I would've sung along to those vocals that flow amongst the riffing melodies.

Pagan Altar - "Pagan Altar" from Judgement of the Dead (1982/2005)

4/5. The fact that doom metal is considered the first ever extreme metal genre, before thrash metal, death metal, and black metal may baffle some minds, but yeah, doom is one of the earliest metal genres besides classic heavy metal. Some of the earlier Black Sabbath material has planted the seed for bands to play a slower kind of heavy metal that would basically be a prototype to early melodic doom metal, one of those bands being Pagan Altar. You can headbang to even the slower doomy sections. I can grasp how inspiring this band has been. I mean, even bands that aren't doom metal but sometimes touch upon doomy territory like Samael may have some things borrowed from this band. So, for those who enjoy classic heavy metal and/or doom metal, worship the Pagan Altar!

Saxon - "Judgement Day" from Saxon (1979)

3.5/5. Some bands starting out in the 70s like Saxon had more hard rock-ish roots. I like it, though it can't beat the heavier stuff that I love.

Cirith Ungol - "Distant Shadows" from Dark Parade (2023)

3/5. There are some times though when the appeal is a little too distant for me when it comes to this heavy/doom metal blend.

Tank - "Filth Hounds of Hades" from Filth Hounds of Hades (1982)

2.5/5. I think some people from the younger generations would get into this band from seeing a poster for this album appear in Stranger Things. I can hear a bit of what Voivod would have later that decade, but other than that, the more hard rock-infused sound is too much. Still, RIP Algy Ward...

Witchfynde - "Give 'Em Hell" from Give 'Em Hell (1980)

3/5. Slightly better, though a little goofy in this track and its album's cover art. It would've been better if the vocals could've had more control in the rising shrieks.

Mercyful Fate - "Gypsy" from Don't Break the Oath (1984)

3.5/5. King Diamond has better control in his falsettos for sure, and the instrumentation can remind some of Raven.

Running Wild - "Diabolic Force" from Gates of Purgatory (1984)

4/5. Ah yeah, Running Wild's satanic heavy/speed metal era before becoming the leaders of pirate power metal.

Virgin Steele - "VIRGIN STEELE - Anniversary Remix" from Virgin Steele I (The Anniversary Remix) (1982/2024)

4.5/5. Virgin Steele has had a similar stylistic path to Running Wild, starting off as classic heavy metal and then rising into fame by exploring power metal. The band's own theme song is pretty much the anthem of their earlier sound.

Anvil - "Winged Assassins" from Forged in Fire (1983)

4/5. I have no idea why Anvil hasn't made as huge of a breakthrough as their more popular classic heavy metal peers. Like that midsection soloing is d*mn mind-blowing! Meanwhile, Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Metal Church get all the credit. Anvil has given the genre more life the way those other bands have done it. But of course, I won't argue. It's all a matter of fate. I just wish they weren't too big on the Judas Priest-isms though.

Kiuas - "Black Rose Withered" from The New Dark Age (2008)

4.5/5. Kiuas has made some of the best heavy/power metal from Finland, with underrated hits like this one.

Leaves' Eyes - "Hammer of the Gods" from Myths of Fate (2024)

5/5. Awesome Viking-infused symphonic metal! This shows how well Leaves Eyes is doing with Elina Siirala instead of Liv Kristine.

Dragonfly - "Entre El Odio Y La Pasión" from Domine (2006)

4.5/5. Wonderful vocals by Pablo Solano, really enhancing the Spanish lyrics.

Avantasia - "Kill the Pain Away" from A Paranormal Evening With the Moonflower Society (2022)

4/5. Who wouldn't enjoy the impressive vocal melodies of Floor Jansen (Nightwish)? Great collab, great song!

Lord of the Lost - "My Funeral" from OPVS NOIR VOL. 3 (2026)

4.5/5. Symphonic majesty is blended with heavy dissonance. I love it!

Nightwish - "Nemo" from Once (2004)

4/5. When I was really in the symphonic/power metal zone over a decade ago, this was one of my favorite Nightwish songs. While I don't enjoy it as greatly as I did back then, it's still a suitable soundtrack for wandering the snowy mountains of winter.

Within Temptation - "Memories" from The Silent Force (2004)

4.5/5. Another symphonic metal classic, this one suitable for wandering the autumn forests of past memories.

Iron Fire - "Ironhead" from Revenge (2006)

5/5. One of my favorite Iron Fire songs. I don't know how I didn't stumble upon this majestic band when I was around 15 or 17 and highly focused on power metal, but hey, better late than never! I especially love the vocals by Martin Steene. The song is both heavy and melodic, just how I f***ing like it.

Xandria - "Northstar" from Northstar (2026)

4.5/5. The brand-new Xandria album Eclipse will come out next week as of this comment. This pre-release single has probably gotten me the most pumped for the new album. And a solid track to lead you to the epic finale of this playlist...

Edenbridge - "Arcana" from Arcana (2001)

5/5. As awesome as all the previous highlights are, they're nothing compared to the title track of this Edenbridge album. And I sh*t you not, it's one of the most melodic epics I've heard in my over a decade of listening to metal. Wonderful guitar flow and more of the vocal power of Sabine Edelsbacher. Her singing can range from operatic to full-on siren. And we can't forget the guitarwork by Lanvall and Andreas Eibler often going from melodic to complex. Nothing else I can say about that glorious epic can do it justice.

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!

August 2026

1. ALTUS Sound Team, ATLUS GAME MUSIC - "Ephemeral" from Shin Megami Tensei V Original Soundtrack (2021)

2. Dawn of Ashes - "The Serpent of Eden" from The Crypt Injection II (Non Serviam) (2019)

3. Rammstein - "Links 2 3 4" from Mutter (2001)

4. Rob Zombie - "F.T.W. 84" from The Great Satan (2026)

5. Julien-K - "Waking Up" from SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK (2006)

6. Turmion Katilot - "Sikiö" from Universal Satan (2018) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. Fear Factory - "Christploitation" from Mechanize (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Synthetic Breed - "Neuro Connectivity" from Catatonic (2008)

9. The Clay People - "Plug" from The Clay People (1998)

10. Halo - "Filling the Empty Spaces With Cash" from Body of Light (2003)

11. 1000 Homo DJs - "Supernaut (Trent Vocals)" from Trax Box (1990/2015)

12. Combichrist - "Broken United" from One Fire (2019)

13. Motionless in White - "Voices" from Graveyard Shift (2017)

14. Youth Code, King Yosef, Matt Pike - "Head Underwater" from A Skeleton Key in the Doors of Depression (2021)

15. Lord of the Lost - "La Vie Est Hell" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 (2026)

16. In This Moment - "Crawl" from Crawl (2026)

17. KMFDM - "Flesh" from Nihil (1995)

18. Strapping Young Lad - "Dirt Pride" from Strapping Young Lad (2003) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Psyclon Nine - "And With Fire" from Icon of the Adversary (2018) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

20. Toxic Grind Machine - "Hymnlock" from Embryonic Emission (2012)

21. Vortech - "The Dark City" from The Shadow Presence (2022)

22. Mechina - "Planetfall" from Progenitor (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

23. Daedalean Complex - "A Garden of Lies" from After the Fall (2017)

24. Jacob Lizotte - "THE GREY" from THE GREY (2026)

25. Celldweller, SWARM, REEBZ - "Fakebreaker" from Fakebreaker (2025)

26. Sielwolf - "Antimon #3" from Metastasen (1994)

27. Neurotech - "No Matter the Rain" from In Delta Negative (2026) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

August 2026

1. Born of Osiris - "Machine" from Tomorrow We Die Alive (2013)

2. Hope for the Dying - "Vacillation" from Dissimulation (2011)

3. Silent Civilian - "The Song Remains Un-Named" from Rebirth of the Temple (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Adept - "Heaven" from Blood Covenant (2025)

5. ten56. - "Pig" from Pig (2025)

6. Unearth - "My Will Be Done" from The March (2008) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. 7 Angels 7 Plagues - "A Farewell to a Perfect Score" from Jhazmyne's Lullaby (2001)

8. Shadows Fall - "To Ashes" from Somber Eyes to the Sky (1997)

9. Fear of Domination - "Last Words" from Katharsis (2026) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Bleed from Within - "Flesh and Stone" from Shrine (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Motionless in White - "To Keep From Getting Burned" from When Love Met Destruction (2009)

12. Impending Doom - "Towards the Light" from Towards the Light (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Humanity's Last Breath - "Earthless" from Valde (2021)

14. Mental Cruelty - "Eternal Eclipse" from A Hill to Die Upon (2021)

15. Worm Shepherd - "The Dying Heavens" from The Sleeping Sun (2023)

16. Hollow Front - "LOST BOY" from Homewrecker (2017)

17. Bad Omens - "The Worst in Me" from Bad Omens (2016)

18. ERRA - "Prometheus" from Augment (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Northlane - "Dispossession" from Discoveries (2011)

20. Dark Divine - "Permanent" from Permanent (2026)

21. Imminence - "False Light" from False Light (2026)

22. Resistor - "DEAD SOUL" from DEAD SOUL (2026)

23. Thrown - "Split" from Split (2026)

24. Ion Dissonance - "Failure in the Process of Identifying a Dream" from Breathing is Irrelevant (2003)

25. Knut - "Torvalds" from Terraformer (2005) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. August Burns Red - "Sonic Salvation" from Season of Surrender (2026)

27. The Plot in You - "Carved" from The Plot in You (2026)

28. Emmure - "Drug Dealer Friend" from Speaker of the Dead (2011)

29. The Acacia Strain - "Cthulhu" from Continent (2008)

30. Whitechapel - "Articulo Mortis" from The Somatic Defilement (2007)

August 2026

1. Tyr - "Gates of Hel" from Hel (2019) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Versailles - "Shadows Fang" from Lineage ～薔薇の末裔～(2017) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Judas Priest - "Freewheel Burning" from Defenders of the Faith (1984)

4. Omen - "Death Rider" from Battle Cry (1984)

5. Grave Digger - "Bone Collector" from Bone Collector (2025)

6. LOUDNESS - "THE LAW OF DEVIL'S LAND" from THE LAW OF DEVIL'S LAND (1983)

7. Pagan Altar - "Pagan Altar" from Judgement of the Dead (1982/2005)

8. Saxon - "Judgement Day" from Saxon (1979)

9. Cirith Ungol - "Distant Shadows" from Dark Parade (2023)

10. Tank - "Filth Hounds of Hades" from Filth Hounds of Hades (1982)

11. Witchfynde - "Give 'Em Hell" from Give 'Em Hell (1980)

12. Mercyful Fate - "Gypsy" from Don't Break the Oath (1984) [Suggested by Sonny]

13. Running Wild - "Diabolic Force" from Gates of Purgatory (1984) [Suggested by Sonny]

14. Virgin Steele - "VIRGIN STEELE - Anniversary Remix" from Virgin Steele I (The Anniversary Remix) (1982/2024)

15. Anvil - "Winged Assassins" from Forged in Fire (1983)

16. Kiuas - "Black Rose Withered" from The New Dark Age (2008) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. Leaves' Eyes - "Hammer of the Gods" from Myths of Fate (2024) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. Dragonfly - "Entre El Odio Y La Pasión" from Domine (2006)

19. Avantasia - "Kill the Pain Away" from A Paranormal Evening With the Moonflower Society (2022)

20. Lord of the Lost - "My Funeral" from OPVS NOIR VOL. 3 (2026)

21. Nightwish - "Nemo" from Once (2004)

22. Within Temptation - "Memories" from The Silent Force (2004)

23. Iron Fire - "Ironhead" from Revenge (2006)

24. Xandria - "Northstar" from Northstar (2026)

25. Edenbridge - "Arcana" from Arcana (2001) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

Since I wasn't too much of a fan of this album, despite its historical status as the earliest Sphere release enough for me to make this nomination, my review is kinda short, so you can check it out here: https://metal.academy/reviews/26560/8429

3/5

Recommended tracks (ONLY ones I would recommend): "Tunnel of Love", "Dolores", "The Animals", "People Pie"

For fans of: Swans, Trust Obey, 80s Ministry

Here's my review summary:

After the decadent 80s when metal and hardcore were two separate sides, the despondent 90s was when both genres have been united. Vocalist Charles Maggio had to fight his own battles when keeping together 3 jobs; his time in the band, being an accountant, and a father of twins, with all of that energy put into making a real scene-changer. Rorschach has made the perfect stylistic formula for the most brutal hardcore at that time, transcending into a new style they wanted to invent. This is a relentless D-beat-inspired assault of crushing riffs and tormented screams like nothing before! Right from the opener, the album blasts out into metalcore fury right from its very creation. Everything is put together well in chaotic dissonance. The slithering bass and jackhammering drums share the stage with the guitars and vocals. This raw formation of a new sound while channeling their own horrors is kind of what Black Sabbath had done when inventing heavy metal. Like Sabbath, Rorschach was a will-testing pioneer of something new. With this perfect offering, metalcore was born!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Pavlov's Dogs", "In the Year of Our Lord", "Impressions", "Lightning Strikes Twice", "No One Dies Alone", "Oppress"

For fans of: early Converge, Integrity, Snapcase

Here's my review summary:

After the marvelous Kezia, Protest the Hero made another album with the hopes of recreating those wild wonders. Would the frantic guitar, fast drumming, hammering bass, and soundwave-defying vocal range continue the awesomeness? Yes and no! Though not as perfect as Kezia, it's heavier, faster, and more technical. Vocalist Rody Walker continues his melodic singing, screaming, and growling, now in greater balance and more powerful maturity. Guitar duo Luke Hoskin and Tim Mullar pull their hammers out of the stone and swing them through different time signatures literally second after second. Drummer Moe Carlson pedals through interesting fills and rhythms. And bassist Arif Mirabdobaghi taps through his overshadowed skills. The album has been split into 3 sections, almost like in Kezia, and each one has many chaotic moments to make me jump in joy. The inventive riffs go along with the catchy hooks in the vocals. I would recommend this album to any fan of progressive metal and metalcore. With all those skillful changes, you'll be shocked at how what seems impossible is possible!

4.5/5

Update for September:

THE FALLEN: Sonny, Vinny

THE GATEWAY: Saxy

THE GUARDIANS: Xephyr, Andi, Sonny

THE HORDE: Vinny, Sonny

THE INFINITE: Andi, Xephyr, Saxy

THE NORTH: Vinny, Sonny, Xephyr

THE PIT: Vinny, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: Andi

THE SPHERE: Andi

Ben, please add the new Reflections album Crystal Eyes.

Ben, please add the new Balance of Power album Fresh from the Abyss.

If you were to implement the new site, Ben, would you still retain features such as the playlists and monthly clan features or do you envision moving on from them or replacing them with something else?

Personally I would vote for retaining them since I've had a lot of fun doing those, but I guess that's up for Ben to decide.

I'll also continue using the site the same way, though if anyone wants to gain points for the albums they listen to and the covers they check out, they can do that, just as long as they don't abuse the system. As for the Subgenre Change Proposals, it really does look like a great evolution for the Hall of Judgement. Instead of just submitting it via a forum thread, we can just go to an album's release page to propose adding or removing a subgenre for other members to vote in a limited amount of time and see if it reaches enough upvotes for the admins to decide the outcome. So if that new feature goes well, we would have more immediate voting participation and better results. Anyway, exciting new features, and all the more reason to look forward to the new site. Awesome work, Ben!

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

Metalcore is often about blending beauty with brutality, and the guitarists can do that with their melodies and chords. The breakdowns are all wonderful and fresh, and that alone should've given this short-lived band more credit as metal/hardcore forerunners. The heaviness doesn't stop until a couple clean interludes. I used to not care for those kinds of tracks, but then I realized how essential they are in metalcore releases, maybe even deathcore bands like All Shall Perish. A nice break from the action is needed, so the occasional clean interlude can help with that. Those tracks and more importantly the heavier breakdown-laden tracks help make the lone album from this short-lived band be so influential to other bands and listeners (including myself), past and present. Absolutely groundbreaking!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "A Farewell to a Perfect Score", "The Commentator's Despair", "Away with Words", "Silent Deaths, Crowded Lives", "Jhazmyne's Lullaby"

For fans of: From Autumn to Ashes, Misery Signals, early Hopesfall

Here's my submission for the August Gateway playlist:

Mushroomhead - "Destroy the World Around Me" (from XIII, 2003)

I have to admit, this feature release has also allowed me to reconnect with this Mushroomhead album after sometime away following my departure from The Gateway, and I'm grateful for your choice, Saxy. One of the highlights will definitely mark one more Gateway playlist suggestion from me. Anyway, here's my review summary:

The experimentation of their first major-label album (besides the compilation XX) I can admire when blended with the accessibility they've gained after their first 3 albums that were self-released. I've considered Mushroomhead a standout band in alt-/nu metal, and revisiting this excellent album made me restore that thought. There are different mood changes song after song, sometimes brutal and melancholic. And it all leads to a dramatic epic! If this album ended with that 8-minute epic instead of following it up with two odd songs in one track, I would've consider Mushroomhead's XIII a perfect album enough to make me reconsider abandoning all of alt-metal. Still the majority of this release has satisfied me. Who knows if I might revisit their later albums someday? Well, never say never!

4.5/5

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

The 2010s saw the rise of the modern Japanese all-female rock/metal scene, with bands like Aldious, Band-Maid, and of course, Babymetal. And then comes Lovebites, a unique band putting a new twist to the world of Japanese power metal. In many songs, the rhythm section is in perfect execution via drummer Haruna and bassist Miho, both formerly of Destrose. The guitar duo Midori and Mi-ya perform intense guitarwork. And of course, the gorgeous wide-ranged vocal dynamics of Asami. Now if there's someone for me to thank for getting me interested in Lovebites, it would be Beyond the Black with their song "Can You Hear Me?" featuring Asami. Her vocals made me up for her band before I've even seen what they look like. And that's good since people seem to think they're a J-pop band before even hearing their actual music. Those kick-A rippin' riffs and melodies should not be missed out on. So go ahead, give them a try!

5/5

Recommended tracks: "Shadowmaker", "Scream for Me", "The Apocalypse", "Don't Bite the Dust", "Edge of the World", "Bravehearted"

For fans of: Aldious, Galneryus, Stratovarius

Submissions accepted! Thanks, Sonny.

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

Fear Factory - "Christploitation" (4:58) from Mechanize (2010)

Mechina - "Planetfall" (5:57) from Progenitor (2016)

Neurotech - "No Matter the Rain" (5:02) from In Delta Negative (2026)

Psyclon Nine - "And With Fire" (5:04) from Icon of the Adversary (2018)

Strapping Young Lad - "Dirt Pride" (2:40) from Strapping Young Lad (2003)

Turmion Katilot - "Sikiö" (3:58) from Universal Satan (2018)

Total length: 27:39

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

Bleed from Within - "Flesh and Stone" (4:10) from Shrine (2022)

ERRA - "Prometheus" (4:14) from Augment (2013)

Fear of Domination - "Last Words" (3:01) from Katharsis (2026)

Impending Doom - "Towards the Light" (2:36) from Towards the Light (2025)

Knut - "Torvalds" (3:03) from Terraformer (2005)

Silent Civilian - "The Song Remains Un-Named" (5:54) from Rebirth of the Temple (2006)

Unearth - "My Will Be Done" (3:37) from The March (2008)

Total length: 26:35

Here are my submissions for the August Infinite playlist:

Coroner - "Trinity" (5:42) from Dissonance Theory (2025)

Fallujah - "Hollow" (4:37) from Undying Light (2019)

In Vain - "En forgangen tid (Times of Yore Pt. II)" (6:26) from Currents (2018)

Threshold - "Narcissus" (11:22) from Hypothetical (2001)

Total length: 28:07

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

Edenbridge - "Arcana" (9:48) from Arcana (2001)

Kiuas - "Black Rose Withered" (3:50) from The New Dark Age (2008)

Leaves' Eyes - "Hammer of the Gods" (4:34) from Myths of Fate (2024)

Tyr - "Gates of Hel" (6:42) from Hel (2019)

Versailles - "Shadows Fang" (4:24) from Lineage ～薔薇の末裔～(2017)

Total length: 29:18

I also like the new site's look. I don't have any new feature ideas in mind right now, Ben, but if I do, I'll let you know. Here's to an exciting new era for Metal Academy!