Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies
Another Infinite playlist I felt up to breezing through entirely. Great work, Saxy! Here are all my track thoughts:
Avenged Sevenfold – Fermi Paradox (2016)
4.5/5. Quite a cool start to this playlist! Avenged Sevenfold has pulled off some impressive progressiveness ala Symphony X, as well as some brief moments of blackened blast-beats. I approve of the lyrics too, sounding poetic even in small phrases, "The past is sewn." "My sweet Medusa."
Baroness – Ray on Pinion (2007)
5/5. Mastodon: "We're true geniuses in sludgy progressive metal!" Baroness: "Hold our beers." I'm stunned by how awesome this band is, with the first verses reminding me of Intronaut at that time. The last third of the track fully displays their talent. The cover artwork by frontman John Baizley really pops out as well. I need more of this band!
Car Bomb – Antipatterns (2019)
4.5/5. This one ironically has its own pattern in the structure. It starts heavy again with a breakdown before building up and collapsing into a cinematic ending of operatic synth reverb. The heat begins to cool down...
Conception – Roll the Fire (1993)
5/5. Similarly with Thunderstone's "Virus", the "2.0" version makes up to checking out the original song, followed by the rest of that band's material. The vocals are so mesmerizing, and so are the incredible guitars. See, Norwegian metal in the 90s wasn't always the black metal of Darkthrone. Did I mention how amazing Roy Khan is? Kamelot may have been the band I was listening to in my teens, but better late than never for my discovery of his earlier band.
Cynic – The Space for This (2008)
4.5/5. The greatest emotion spawns from the blend of clean melody and harsh heaviness from both the music and vocals, that can help motivate you to battle against the weight of depression. There's space for many great memories of when I listened to more melodic progressive metal bands like Cynic. The band started off as more of a jazzy tech-death in their debut Focus before softening their sound 15 years later in Traced in Air. And the soloing at over the 4-minute mark is out of this world!
Defecto – Eternal Descent (2025)
4/5. This one's an underrated heavy banger, with beastly vocals and guitarwork by Nicklas Sonne. A pretty great track worth repeated listening. What a shame that Denmark doesn't have as many prominent metal bands than other Northern European countries. Imagine if Kamelot or Symphony X has less of the symphonics and more rapid-fire melodeath/thrash instrumentation. That's the band and song right there!
Fallujah – The Crystalline Veil (2025)
4.5/5. But if you're up for actual progressive melodic/tech-death, look no further than Fallujah. The guitar and bass sounds amazing here! They really packs some explosive punches at the two-minute mark. When things get more melodic while still progressive a minute and a half later, it might remind some of The Safety Fire. After a minute passes, we get some beautiful soloing in between the vocal sections, guided by intricate drums. Then one more clean chorus, and some f***ing killer riffing to close things off. G****mn, I can almost consider this a perfect gem!
Gojira – The Art of Dying (2008)
4/5. Gojira's songs can be considered a heavy mix of Meshuggah and TOOL. The lyrics fit well with the title, as the philosophical lyrics, especially the first verse, detail the pain and depression of real-life and the peace and tranquility of the afterlife, relating well to our hardships of life. So it's not always the environment this French progressive metal bands always sings about. Beautiful rhythm appears from the 6-minute mark onwards, for their typical dose of progressive melody.
Haken – The Strain (2020)
4.5/5. Y'know, my relationship with The Infinite is a bit strained when I keep losing my appeal for bands like Gojira and Haken. With that said, this song is still interesting despite sounding too much like both TOOL and Lacuna Coil. Still we have excellent progressive guitarwork, making up for the lack of Diego Tejeida's keyboard prominence. There are definitely some Animals as Leaders and Between the Buried and Me vibes here. Along with a Plini-inspired intro. The Dream Theater side of things start to show at over the two-minute mark, leading into two minutes of intensity and bliss. After all that, the final chorus has some of the most beautiful falsetto vocals I've heard. This can practically be an anthem for The Infinite, and I wish it could've existed in my more melodic teenage-hood.
Jinjer – Pausing Death (2019)
5/5. I've often come across playlists that start off heavy but gradually become more melodic. This shows that this playlist is like that, "BUT THIS TIME BACKWARRRRRRDS!!!" So beautiful and brutal, with the final breakdown at the 4-minute mark being a crushing show-stopper.
A Kew’s Tag - …To Reveal a Grieving Goddess (2021)
4.5/5. Do I have to know what the f*** something like a kew's tag is for me to enjoy this song? The beautiful Haken vibes get me hooked.
The Ocean – The Quite Observer (2015)
4/5. Progressive metal and post-sludge are the two best Infinite genres. So why am I quiet about this band? Maybe one day, I'll be up to checking out their material again.
Ok Goodnight – The Snake (2023)
4/5. I wouldn't say this is a total highlight, but it's a raging beast for sure.
Samael – Black Matter Manifesto (2025)
4.5/5. At last, the D-flat-tuned symphonic black metal that has been missing from this band for 30 years (except for Above) has returned! And it's more progressive too, sounding closer to a blend of Coroner's new album Dissonance Theory and Enslaved.
Soen – Savia (2012)
5/5. An awesome highlight, especially in the vocals by Joel Ekelof and the bass by the famous Steve Di Giorgio. A bit TOOL-ish in the beginning, but still beautiful. This incredible song can be both beastly and mellow.
TesseracT – War of Being (2023)
5/5. HOLY MAMMOTH, the 11-minute title epic of the new Tesseract album has really gotten me excited and on my seat! There are so many intense twists that it's hard to count. And the vocals are so majestic. This is the kind of epic Tesseract has had with "Concealing Fate" from One and the 4 epics that make up Altered State, missing in the two albums that followed. Tesseract is really back!
Vildhjarta - + Den spanska känslan + (2025)
5/5. The final track of this album has the last unforgiving riffing throughout this glorious 7-minute epic before letting light shine again, albeit not as bright as it once was.
Vulkan – This Visual Hex (2020)
4.5/5. And finally what's one last long epic to end this splendid playlist? Though the instrumentation sounds a bit programmed.
Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:
Sabaton - "Bismarck" from Bismarck (2019)
4/5. Let's begin with this song from one of heavy/power metal's biggest bands of the new millennium, Sabaton. As you can guess, this one is based on Bismarck, a World War battleship named after Otto von Bismarck.
Aquaria - "And Let the Show Begin" from Luxaeterna (2005)
4.5/5. The show is already beginning with another power metal band, this one being part of the Brazilian power metal scene along with Almah and Angra. An amazing uplifting anthem! See this is the kind of music I would've loved to bits 10 years before this comment I was into this happy melodic sound. Even that album cover is beautiful! The band has a lot of talent here, essential for power metal. And there's more of that genre to come later on in the playlist...
Iron Maiden - "Blood Brothers" from Brave New World (2000)
4/5. Now we're getting to some of the masters of heavy metal. A great funeral song for any metalhead, to say farewell to a brother of the metal brotherhood.
Black Sabbath - "Devil & Daughter" from Headless Cross (1989)
3.5/5. The Tony Martin era may not be the Black Sabbath era, but it's certainly underrated. His vocals are quite cool here. Still, no disrespect to the late legend Ozzy Osbourne, RIP. However, the music sounds a little too glam-ish, so it's understandable why this era doesn't get all the fame and glory.
Battle Beast - "Twilight Cabaret" from Steelbound (2025)
4/5. Also a bit pop-ish, though I don't ever regret listening. Seems like the 80s-fueled catchy melody they've had since Bringer of Pain is still going.
Nickelback - "San Quentin" from San Quentin EP (2022)
3.5/5. Well this is gonna p*ss some metalheads off, a Nickelback song appearing in a Metal Academy playlist. But hear me out, this is, to my ears, Nickelback's most metallic song, and their heaviest since "This Means War". It sounds a lot like an Avenged Sevenfold single, and Chad Kroeger's vocals have a bit of a Rob Zombie-esque grit.
Metallica - "Too Far Gone?" from 72 Seasons (2023)
3/5. And now we have a song from Metallica's new album. The music is quite decent, yet the lyrics don't work well for me.
Quiet Riot - "Bad Boy" from Condition Critical (1984)
3.5/5. RIP Kevin DuBrow. His great vocals could really get you pumping. He was one of Quiet Riot's most essential members. The intro riff and bass are pretty good too. Quiet Riot's first two albums (not including their Japan-only 70s albums) are the only two in their classic era metal enough for this site.
X Japan - "Easy Fight Rambling" from Blue Blood (1989)
4/5. One of my favorite songs from this band when I was still listening to them a few years. They're like the Japanese bridge between heavy/glam metal and power metal.
W.A.S.P. - "Come Back to Black" from The Neon God, Pt. 2: The Demise (2004)
3.5/5. I don't listen to much of W.A.S.P., but this is quite a good song. Whether or not the lyrics hit or miss, they are as catchy as the music.
Ozzy Osbourne - "Shot in the Dark" from The Ultimate Sin (1986)
4/5. Another great song by the Prince of Darkness. Once again, RIP Ozzy Osbourne...
Within Temptation - "Shot in the Dark" from The Unforgiving (2011)
4.5/5. Already heading into a different direction is this similarly titled Within Temptation song, including a new aspect that had barely done before by the band; guitar soloing.
Visions of Atlantis - "Lost" from Cast Away (2004)
5/5. RIP Nicole Bogner. G****mn it, the best vocalists just had to be the ones that are gone from this world. And her vocals are a beautiful gift. The song's original album Cast Away has some of my favorite tracks here, including this one. I also enjoy the vocals by Mario Plank which are closer to my own vocal range. In all honesty, I just wish I could have listened to this band 10 years before this comment when my symphonic/power metal interest was at an all-time high. But yeah, fantastic song!
Xandria - "Universal" from Universal Tales (2024)
5/5. Another symphonic metal song to love. Enough said!
Reptilian - "Skeleton Scales" from Castle of Yesterday (2001)
4.5/5. Also quite amazing and enjoyable, if you're up for neoclassical piano metal.
Galneryus - "Let Us Shine" from Between Dread and Valor (2023)
5/5. Yes, let Galneryus shine! F***ing majestic guitarwork by Syu.
Yngwie Malmsteen - "Eclipse" from Eclipse (1990)
4.5/5. As any metalhead would know, Yngwie Malmsteen is a master of neoclassical metal with his guitar-shredding compositions.
Masterplan - "Kind Hearted Light" from Masterplan (2003)
5/5. A true anthem of power metal, showing Grapow and Kusch taking notes on what made Helloween big.
Thunderstone - "Virus" from Thunderstone (2002)
4.5/5. Similarly to Masterplan and other bands like the Brazilian Almah, Thunderstone has power metal gems with strong vocals. Even when a band is underground, they can still sound excellent. Keep rocking, guys!
Serenity - "Forever" from Words Untold & Dreams Unlived (2007)
5/5. An absolutely underrated song with killer lyrics! I've slept on this band for too long, and I'm glad to get on board for more of their material.
Savatage - "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" from Dead Winter Dead (1995)
4.5/5. Since this is the December Guardians playlist, I knew I couldn't miss out on including a couple Christmas metal songs. The first of which you would recognize as that Savatage instrumental popularized by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It has also been in a couple Christmas specials for The Office and Regular Show. And yeah, both bands' versions are the same recording.
Nightwish - "FantasMic" from Wishmaster (2000)
4.5/5. A fantastic epic paying tribute to the animated works of Disney. It really packs a powerful punch, especially in the final 3 minutes. Absolutely spectacular!
Iron Fire - "Riding Free" from Thunderstorm (2000)
5/5. Some of the great riffs I've heard in heavy/power metal!
Blazon Rite - "The Coming Tide of Yule" from Wild Rites and Ancient Songs (2023)
4.5/5. And finally, there's the epic wonder of this closing track of its original album and this playlist. It's probably the most Christmas-like melodic metal song since that Trans-Siberian Orchestra song. I'm glad this playlist can provide a couple songs worth listening to in the holiday season.
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!
December 2025
1. Ghostemane - "Crash 'n Learn" from Fear Network II (2021)
2. D'espairsray - "Marry of the Blood" from Born (2004) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
3. Flesh Field - "Uprising" from Strain (2004)
4. Godflesh - "Obeyed" from A World Lit Only by Fire (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
5. Lord of the Lost - "Raveyard (feat. Kaarija)" from Raveyard (2025)
6. Marilyn Manson - "The Beautiful People" from Antichrist Superstar (1996)
7. The Interbeing - "Synthetic Bloodline" from Icon of the Hopeless (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
8. Neurotech - "Repent in Need" from Ave Neptune (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
9. Sybreed - "Take the Red Pill" from Slave Design (2004)
10. Deadheaven - "Тлеет Горизонт" from Антиреальность (2014)
11. Rob Zombie - "Heathen Days" from Heathen Days (2025)
12. Monster Voodoo Machine - "Temple - Jerico Meltdown Mix" from State Voodoo / State Control (1994)
13. Dome Runner - "Fuji Cracks" from Conflict State Design (2021)
14. Rabbit Junk - "U-Lock Justice!" from Project Nonagon (2010)
15. Khost - "Death Threat" from Many Things Afflict Us Few Things Console Us (2024)
16. Jesus Loves Junkies - "Para-Side" from The Great Escape from Paradise (1998)
17. The Kovenant - "Prophecies of Fire" from Animatronic (1999)
18. Blue Stahli - "Endure" from Obsidian (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
19. Circle of Dust - "Yurasuka (Blue Stahli Remix)" from Disengage (1998, 2016 remaster) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
20. Ap2 - "A New World" from Suspension of Disbelief (2000)
21. Fear of Domination - "The Bad Touch" from The Bad Touch (2017)
22. N.K.V.D. - "Hakmarrja" from Hakmarrja (2014)
23. Raubtier - "Hjarteblod" from Det Finns Bara Krig (2009)
24. Rammstein - "Ohne Dich" from Reise, Reise (2004)
25. Zaraza - "Every Day is a Funeral" from Slavic Blapshemy (1997)
26. T3CHN0PH0B1A - "Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me" from Grave New World (2008)
December 2025
1. Adept - "Blood Covenant" from Blood Covenant (2025)
2. Dead by April - "Bulletproof" from Bulletproof (2020)
3. Cave In - "Vicious Circles" from White Silence (2011)
4. The Narrator - "Aurora" from Aurora (2025)
5. Allt - "Aquila" from From the New World (2024)
6. Nik Nocturnal - "Collapse" from Collapse (2025)
7. Shadows Fall - "Root Bound Apollo" from Of One Blood (1999)
8. AVRALIZE - "Fading Faster" from Liminal (2025)
9. Carnifex - "Dark Days" from Die Without Hope (2014)
10. Humanity's Last Breath - "Anthracite" from Anthracite (2025)
11. Reflections - "From Nothing" from Willow (2020) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
12. The Breathing Process - "The Conscious Observer" from Samsara (2018) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
13. The Devil Wears Prada - "Supernova" from Space (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
14. It Dies Today - "Life of Uncertainty" from Lividity (2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
15. 156/Silence - "Better Written Villain" from People Watching (2024)
16. Lamb of God - "Again We Rise" from Sacrament (2006)
17. Dragoncorpse - "Born Again" from Born Again (2025)
18. Structures - "Gone / Dead" from None of the Above (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
19. We Came as Romans - "If There's Nothing to See" from Cold Like War (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
20. Girlsbeinggirls - "Girls Cutting Girls" from Girlsbeinggirls (2025)
21. Daughters - "Jones from Indiana" from Canada Songs (2003)
22. The Chariot - "They Drew Their Swords" from The Fiancee (2007)
23. Psyopus - "X and Y" from Odd Senses (2009)
24. The Number Twelve Looks Like You - "An Aptly Fictional Description" from Nuclear Sad Nuclear (2005)
25. Wolves at the Gate - "The King" from The King (2012)
26. Trivium - "Six Walls" from Struck Dead (2025)
27. Hope for the Dying - "Open Up the Sky" from Aletheia (2013)
28. Atreyu - "Lip Gloss and Black" from Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses (2002) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
December 2025
1. Sabaton - "Bismarck" from Bismarck (2019)
2. Aquaria - "And Let the Show Begin" from Luxaeterna (2005)
3. Iron Maiden - "Blood Brothers" from Brave New World (2000)
4. Black Sabbath - "Devil & Daughter" from Headless Cross (1989)
5. Battle Beast - "Twilight Cabaret" from Steelbound (2025)
6. Nickelback - "San Quentin" from San Quentin EP (2022)
7. Metallica - "Too Far Gone?" from 72 Seasons (2023)
8. Quiet Riot - "Bad Boy" from Condition Critical (1984)
9. X Japan - "Easy Fight Rambling" from Blue Blood (1989)
10. W.A.S.P. - "Come Back to Black" from The Neon God, Pt. 2: The Demise (2004)
11. Ozzy Osbourne - "Shot in the Dark" from The Ultimate Sin (1986)
12. Within Temptation - "Shot in the Dark" from The Unforgiving (2011)
13. Visions of Atlantis - "Lost" from Cast Away (2004) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
14. Xandria - "Universal" from Universal Tales (2024)
15. Reptilian - "Skeleton Scales" from Castle of Yesterday (2001)
16. Galneryus - "Let Us Shine" from Between Dread and Valor (2023) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
17. Yngwie Malmsteen - "Eclipse" from Eclipse (1990)
18. Masterplan - "Kind Hearted Light" from Masterplan (2003) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
19. Thunderstone - "Virus" from Thunderstone (2002)
20. Serenity - "Forever" from Words Untold & Dreams Unlived (2007) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
21. Savatage - "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" from Dead Winter Dead (1995)
22. Nightwish - "FantasMic" from Wishmaster (2000)
23. Iron Fire - "Riding Free" from Thunderstorm (2000) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
24. Blazon Rite - "The Coming Tide of Yule" from Wild Rites and Ancient Songs (2023)
My review for the album is quite short, so here's the link: https://metal.academy/reviews/32245/4336
5/5
Recommended tracks: "Teurastaja", "Verta ja lihaa", "Pimeyden morsian"
For fans of: Deathstars, Rammstein, Fear of Domination
Here's my review summary:
Not often can you find something that can sound so fresh even after over 25 years following its release. As awesome as many other metalcore releases, they would be bowing down to the true groundbreaking developing albums of the genre. The title and release date fit well together, considering it was released in December 1999, one month before the new millennium (unless you wanna be technical). Already there was hope for a promising future for metal and hardcore in this millennium. There's a lot of fury from the guitar and vocals. Jeffrey Moreira has wonderful vocals as he screams well-written lyrics at the top of his lungs. Not a lot of metalcore vocalists have the same rage as Jeffrey, and he also does some clean singing that helps the band standout among other early metalcore bands. All in all, The Opposite of December is just what every metalcore fan really needs. Something so beautiful and brutal was made by this young talented group that would stand the test of time. This impactful gem is essential for all metal/hardcore fans, one that you can't go your entire life without!
5/5
Recommended tracks: "12/23/93", "Slice Paper Wrists", "To Mandate Heaven", "Not Within Arms Length", "My Mirror No Longer Reflects"
For fans of: Eighteen Visions, early Hopesfall, This Day Forward
Update for January:
THE FALLEN: SONNY, Vinny
THE GATEWAY: ANDI, Saxy
THE GUARDIANS: ANDI, Sonny, Karl
THE HORDE: KARL, Vinny, Sonny
THE INFINITE: SAXY, Andi
THE NORTH: SONNY, Karl, Vinny
THE PIT: VINNY, Sonny
THE REVOLUTION: ANDI
THE SPHERE: ANDI
Here's my submission for the January Gateway playlist:
SEGA SOUND TEAM, Tomoya Ohtani, Kellin Quinn, Tyler Smyth - "Find Your Flame" (from Sonic Frontiers Original Soundtrack Stillness & Motion, 2022)
Welcome to Metal Academy, Lud! I gotta say, both songs are epic, but I choose "Another Side" as the correct side. Though if you're trying to promote your songs and get them more well-known and appreciated, maybe don't rely heavily on AI for your music videos. Just a suggestion. Nonetheless, you do you.
An epic finale that has the band's usual modern sound leading up to the final chorus' grand climax:
Some killer heaviness in this big banger:
It's dragons vs. goblins in DragonForce's brand-new kick-A collab with Nekrogoblikon and Beat Saber:
This fun industrial trance metal cover of the Bloodhound Gang hit is a cool throwback to Fear of Domination's earlier material as well as Turmion Katilot:
Stevie T's power metal AI experiment has become an accidental hit sensation. So much so that someone else actually made their own full cover of that track. Really getting some X Japan/Galneryus/Stratovarius vibes from this one:
Second single with the new lineup. Glad things didn't get f***ed up, and let's hope they don't, fingers crossed. For real though, this is another solid banger:
Just useless jazzy guitar noodling that breaks the flow of the album by appearing so early:
A short yet progressive instrumental with no time wasted at all and some of the best soloing and drumming here:
Truly devastating technical carnage of revived classic progressive tech-death:
Although my interest in alt-rock/metal bands like Linkin Park has dropped after moving out of The Gateway, at least I still like some bands. Here's my discography ranking for one of those bands, Coldrain (including EPs with fresh material):
1. The Enemy Inside
2. The Side Effects
3. Nonnegative
4. The Revelation
5. Through Clarity
6. Nothing Lasts Forever
7. Until the End
8. Optimize
9. Vena
10. Final Destination
11. Fateless
You know that Coldrain song I've just shared in the Gateway Track of the Day thread?
I shared it with one of my outside-world friends, the one who got me into Coldrain and other Japanese alt-metalcore bands via Gundam Extreme. He told me that it has a similar tune and melody as another J-rock song that he likes that was shared by another outside-world friend. And he is right! That song and this one are mashup-worthy:
The opening title highlight of Coldrain's new EP has made me optimistic for what may come next in Japanese modern metal:
I'm glad to appreciate some of the more melodic progressive metal bands like this one:
But I'm still up for the deathly heaviness and ethereal atmosphere coming from this band:
Still expanding my reborn heavy/power/symphonic metal interest, here are 5 bands of those genres that I've heard of when I was still completely in that zone 10 years ago, but didn't start listening to them full-time until I rediscovered them in the playlists that I've assembled in the last few months:
Starting off as a post-hardcore band leaning into metalcore, Dayseeker has since headed towards alt-rock/metal, the metal part shining the most in their new album:
One of the earliest American death-doom bands still active today:
Here my top 10 of 1994:
1. Circle of Dust - Brainchild
2. Unbroken - Life. Love. Regret.
3. The 3rd & the Mortal - Sorrow
4. PainKiller - Execution Ground
5. The 3rd & the Mortal - Tears Laid in Earth
6. Grave - Soulless
7. Godflesh - Selfless
8. Godflesh - Merciless
9. Demolition Hammer - Time Bomb
10. Living Sacrifice - Inhabit
Nik Nocturnal has returned from his break to do some FUN. METAL. THINGS!!!! Kick-A modern metalcore/deathcore/electronic things, to be exact:
Ben, please add the new VoidCeremony album Abditum.
Also if any of the tracks above encourage you to check out more of those bands and come up with some ideas for the monthly Spotify playlists, here's a thread to add in your playlist suggestions: https://metal.academy/forum/10/thread/480
Also if any of the tracks above encourage you to check out more of those bands and come up with some ideas for the monthly Spotify playlists, here's a thread to add in your playlist suggestions: https://metal.academy/forum/9/thread/479
Also if any of the tracks above encourage you to check out more of those bands and come up with some ideas for the monthly Spotify playlists, here's a thread to add in your playlist suggestions: https://metal.academy/forum/7/thread/477
Here are some tracks I can think of that can be good for your Sphere playlist:
Fear Factory - "Recharger" from The Industrialist
PAIN - "Same Old Song" from Dancing with the Dead
Sybreed - "Bioactive" from Slave Design
Strapping Young Lad - "All Hail the New Flesh" from City
The Amenta - "Plague of Locus" from Plague of Locus
Blue Stahli - "Lakes of Flame" from Lakes of Flame
Red Harvest - "Beyond the End" from Sick Transit Gloria Mundi
Northlane - "Freefall" from Alien
Circle of Dust - "Chasm" from Disengage
Cypecore - "Neoteric Gods" from Make Me Real
Godflesh - "Live to Lose" from Us and Them
Celldweller - "Electric Eye" from Satellites
Psyclon Nine - "I Choose Violence" from And Then Oblivion
Old - "Disconnect Self" from Lo Flux Tube
Mechina - "Machine God" from Tyrannical Resurrection
Turmion Katilot - "Helvetin Torvet" from Universal Satan
Samael - "In Gold We Trust" from Lux Mundi
AP2 - "The Only Man I Know" from Supsension of Disbelief
By the way, Zach, I noticed you haven't done the same thing with the Revolution clan. I might start that thread for you later if you'd like, I have a lot to narrow down.
Here are some tracks I can think of that can be good for your Pit playlist:
Lost Society - "Fast Loud Death" from Fast Loud Death
Warbringer - "The Sword and the Cross" from Wrath and Ruin
Sabbat - "Do Dark Horses Dream of Nightmares?" from Dreamweaver
The Haunted - "Bury Your Dead" from Made Me Do It
Demolition Hammer - "Neanderthal" from Tortured Existence
Annihilator - "Human Insecticide" from Alice in Hell
Vektor - "Tetrastructural Minds" from Outer Isolation
Onslaught - "Welcome to Dying" from In Search of Sanity
Here are some tracks I can think of that can be good for your North playlist:
Samael - "After the Sepulture" from Blood Ritual
Shade Empire - "Disembodiment" from Omega Arcane
Stormlord - "Under the Samnites' Spears" from At the Gates of Utopia
Mental Cruelty - "Nordlys" from Zwielicht
Shylmagoghnar - "A New Dawn" from Emergence
Here are some tracks I can think of that can be good for your Infinite playlist:
Threshold - "The Man Who Saw Through Time" from Legends of the Shires
Fates Warning - "Epitaph" from The Spectre Within
Symphony X - "Revelation (Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia)" from Paradise Lost
In Vain - "Where the Winds Meet" from Solemn
Xerath - "I Hold Dominion" from III
Alchemist - "Worlds Within Worlds" from Jar of Kingdom
Madder Mortem - "Resonantine" from Deadlands
Tesseract - "War of Being" from War of Being
Anacrusis - "Grateful" from Screams and Whispers
Extol - "The Things I Found" from The Blueprint Dives
Dir En Grey - "Vinushka" from Uroboros
Voivod - "Killing Technology" from Killing Technology
Seventh Wonder - "Unbreakable" from Mercy Falls
Meshuggah - "Future Breed Machine" from Destroy Erase Improve
Here are some tracks I can think of that can be good for your Horde playlist:
Orbit Culture - "Open Eye" from Nija
Hypocrisy - "Eraser" from The Arrival
Grave - "Into the Grave" from Into the Grave
Obscura - "The Anticosmic Overload" from Cosmogenesis
Fleshgod Apocalypse - "Abyssal" from Mafia
The Amenta - "Nihil" from Occasus
Job for a Cowboy - "The Synthetic Sea" from Sun Eater
Becoming the Archetype - "Autopsy" from The Physics of Fire
Soilwork - "Soilworker's Song of the Damned" from Natural Born Chaos
Dethklok - "Hatredcopter" from The Dethalbum
Insomnium - "Drawn to Black" from Above the Weeping World
Pestilence - "Testimony" from Testimony of the Ancients
Cynic - "Sentiment" from Focus
Here are some tracks I can think of that can be good for your Guardians playlist:
Accept - "Metal Heart" from Metal Heart
Avenged Sevenfold - "Nightmare" from Nightmare
Volbeat - "Still Counting" from Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Queensryche - "Neue Regel" from Rage of Order
Battle Beast - "Last Goodbye" from Last Goodbye
Enforcer - "Mask of Red Death" from From Beyond
Crimson Glory - "Masque of the Red Death" from Transcendence
Bruce Dickinson - "Afterglow of Ragnarok" from The Mandrake Project
3 Inches of Blood - "Silent Killer" from Here Waits Thy Doom
Here are some tracks I can think of that can be good for your Gateway playlist:
36 Crazyfists - "Slit Wrist Theory" from Bitterness the Star
Butcher Babies - "Magnolia Blvd." from Goliath
Cane Hill - "Screwtape" from Smile
Demon Hunter - "Infected" from Demon Hunter
Issues - "Coma" from Headspace
Karnivool - "Mauseum" from Themata
Luti-Kriss - "Black Smith" from Throwing Myself
Mushroomhead - "Kill Tomorrow" from XIII
Slipknot - "The Heretic Anthem" from Iowa
Here are some tracks I can think of that can be good for your Fallen playlist:
Swallow the Sun - "Swallow (Horror I)" from The Morning Never Came (death-doom)
October Tide - "Infinite Submission" from Rain Without End (death-doom)
Trail of Tears - "Bloodstained Endurance" from Bloodstained Endurance (gothic metal)
Neurosis - "The Eye of Every Storm" from The Eye of Every Storm (post-sludge (more sludge than post-))
Cult of Luna - "The Revelation Embodied" from Cult of Luna (post-sludge (more sludge than post-))
Ben, please add the Dragoncorpse EP The Fall of House Abbarath.
Hello again, Zach! I have some good ideas for your playlists, but I'll need some time to narrow them down. Can't wait to show them to you.
The once-shelved 6th album by Textures, Genotype will finally be released on January 23, 2026 (wow, a two-day early birthday present for me!). Check out this killer new single, featuring Charlotte Wessels (ex-Delain):
A massive live rendition of a catchy speedy highlight has planted the seed for international power metal bands like Stratovarius:
The new Trivium EP's 7-minute epic that is the perfect emotional storm:
The ambient industrial instrumental finale oddly enough exemplifies the dark temptation of the more experimental side of The Sphere:
Atmospheric black metal is combined with funeral-ish doom, similarly to Katatonia's debut and Dolorian, suitable for exploring the dark lands of Morytania in RuneScape:
Despite the repetitive riffing, this is the pure high-quality darkness of blackened doom, even leaning slightly into post-sludge:
Hope you get better soon, Vinny.
An upbeat closing track that's not quite doomy, yet really having that gothic vibe: