Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

Ben, please add Dissentient.

Dozens of different rip-offs/coincidences between metal bands and other artists compiled in one video (including the hilarious Septicflesh/Meowmix comparison):

When I was giving this album some listening for my review, I ended up dropping the rating from 4 stars to 3 stars because it isn't as great as I thought it was. But do I regret nominating this a feature release? Nope. It shall still be acknowledged as one of the albums that metalcore wouldn't have been the same without. Here's my review summary:

Well I wouldn't say their is entirely bad. It's more like laying down the blueprints for what they would do in their next album Progression Through Unlearning. And when their debut is at its good side, they strike hard. Vocalist Daryl Taberski was originally the bassist while vocals were done by Tiger Balduf and Chris Galas. Once Galas left, Taberski decided to switch to vocals, and he has the aggressive intensity to go with the raging riffing and breakdowns. That has helped with the rhythmic dissonance this album has. The hardcore riffing is so sludgy and adds to the brooding emotion. Their talent is on full display, until a few tracks in the second half having too much alt-ish experimentation that don't really bring forward any of its needed substance. Luckily, the closing track makes up for those flaws with a true prime example of metalcore in its very early days, and that is no illusion. Lookinglasself is the kind of album that you can understand its status of importance yet find some parts of it a little painful. It takes the right amount of ambition to shape up the sound they were going for, but the experimentation can be too much at times. Nonetheless, they have all they needed to fulfill their vision in their next album. So we gotta be thankful for the existence of Lookinglasself and its impact on metalcore/hardcore. Something decent can go a long way....

3/5

Recommended tracks: "Drain Me / Filter", "Deceived", "Lookinglasself", "Fields of Illusion"

For fans of: Earth Crisis, Integrity, Shawn Jonas-era Zao

Hey Andi, I have a couple of suggestions for July if you want them:

Knights of the Realm - "Blood on Steel" (from "Knights of the Realm", 2021)

Century - "Fallen Hero" (from "Sign of the Storm", 2025)

I was not able to find the Knights of the Realm track on Spotify (must be only in your country), but I could find the Century track, so I've just added that to the playlist.

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

Celldweller - "Just Like You" (5:03) from End of an Empire (2015)

A Dark Halo - "Thin Be the Veil" (4:44) from Omnibus One (2023)

Fear Factory - "Depraved Mind Murder" (4:43) from The Industrialist (2012)

The Interbeing - "Eternal Eclipse" (4:20) from Icon of the Hopeless (2022)

Mechina - "Pray to the Winds" (6:00) from Conqueror (2011)

Motionless in White - "Contemptress" (4:02) from Reincarnate (2014)

Total length: 28:52

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

August Burns Red - "Crusades" (5:11) from Constellations (2009)

Despised Icon - "In the Arms of Perdition" (4:24) from The Ills of Modern Man (2007)

Humanity's Last Breath - "Abyssal Mouth" (4:31) from Abyssal (2019)

Rorschach - "Oppress" (3:45) from Remain Sedate (1990)

Unearth - "Dawn of the Militant" (2:56) from The Wretched; the Ruinous (2023)

While She Sleeps - "Be(lie)ve" (3:54) from This is the Six (2012)

Worm Shepherd - "The Emptiness Between Stars" (4:55) from In the Wake ov Sol (2020)

Total length: 29:36

Here are my submissions for the July Infinite playlist, having just two long epics in mind:

Ihlo - "Signals" (10:01) from Legacy (2025)

Tyr - "Land" (16:19) from Land (2008)

Total length: 26:20

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

Fairyland - "A Soldier's Letter" (5:33) from Score to a New Beginning (2009)

Lovebites - "Bravehearted (Awakened Version)" (6:10) from Awakening from Abyss (2017)

Seven Spires - "Serenity" (4:36) from Solveig (2017)

Tyr - "Valkyrja" (7:31) from Valkyrja (2013)

Warkings - "Live is Life" (3:27) from Live is Life (2026)

Total length: 27:17

Here's my submission for the July Gateway playlist, last one for this clan:

Profiler - "Shadow" (from Shadow, 2026)

The links are in the playlist titles, Sonny. By clicking on them, you can access them.

Cool playlists, Zach!

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

Treponem Pal - "Ghost Rider" from Dead Inside (2025)

3.5/5. Treponem Pals unite!!! I actually didn't know this until when I was commenting on this track, but it's actually a cover of a song by experimental electronic rock band Suicide as a tribute to that band. RIP Alan Vega... Not a bad start to this playlist, but a little too industrial.

S.U.P. - "Insect Drug" from Imago (2005)

4/5. So apparently those Budweiser guys are actually saying "What Spherical Unit Provided???" Lol. OK but seriously, this is some progressive industrial metal here.

Neurotech - "Withstand the Agony" from Withstand the Agony (2026)

4.5/5. Wulf seems to be bringing back the earlier dark heaviness of Neurotech's earlier material from 15 years ago, showing his (inter)stellar talent. And boy, does it hit hard as f***! This should work well in a boss battle. And when the harsh growls and clean singing collide with each other before the last chorus, it's an amazing blast! I should really get back in touch with some of Neurotech's material, especially the new album In Delta Negative.

Static-X - "Jic Boi" from Project Regeneration Vol. 2 (2024)

4/5. Apparently this is a re-recording of a discarded demo for one of their songs "Just in Case" with some elements of "Cold". The vocals by the late Wayne Static (RIP) and Xer0 fit so greatly together. The drumming by Ken Jay also fits in with the improved sound. Even though some people think the band should've ended after Cult of Static (the last one before Wayne's death), others are pleased with how the Project Regeneration series turned out. Oh, and if you think they should've been like Bieber and Timberlake, that's wrong. They DON'T WANNA BE YOUR JUSTIN! But I guess you can consider this Static Dope, because of the somewhat disputed fact that Xer0 is Edsel Dope.

Die Krupps - "To the Hilt" from II - The Final Option (1993)

4.5/5. "Burn the bridges! Forge ahead! To the hilt!" The industrial rock/metal hilt, that is...

Gothminister - "616" from Anima Inferna (2011)

5/5. This highlight switches to an interesting synth intro before the guitar and drum strength comes again. Brem's vocals become grittier and deeper, similar to the earlier albums, that wasn't heard in this Gothminister album until that point.

PAIN - "Parallel to Ecstasy" from Rebirth (1999)

4.5/5. D*mn, what a trip! A trip though Pain's more electronic side. One band that would also blend electronics with rock/metal well is ASP.

Genitorturers - "Flesh is the Law" from Flesh is the Law (2002)

4/5. The better side of the band can be found in this solid track.

The Amenta - "Angry Chair" from Plague of Locus (2023)

4.5/5. This Alice in Chains hit is given a f***ing darker treatment, sounding angrier than that chair. The deep grooves and clean singing are pulled off easily.

Bile - "I Reject" from ReGurge:a Bucket of Bile (2004)

4/5. This one was originally in the band's 1994 debut SuckPump. I'm glad this version from 10 years later has taken out the sounds of regurgitation at the end.

Combichrist, King 810 - "Demons Wanna Be Summoned" from Demons Wanna Be Summoned (2026)

4.5/5. Combichrist and King 810 are really summoning the former industrial metal demons here. It's surpisingly excellent, even though I like my industrial metal to have fast aggression. And Combichrist would have more of that in this next track...

Celldweller - "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked) (Combichrist Remix)" from End of an Empire: The Remixes (2015)

5/5. Now this should end up as part of a Devil May Cry game soundtrack (which Combichrist have contributed to before)! Combichrist have given this track a heavy punch in the guitars, bass, and drums. This alone is probably the heaviest Klayton has gone since Brainchild. I think the drum kicks have a greater kick and are not as goofy as some might think. The slight pause in the instrumentation during the final chorus has pretty much enhanced it. Well done!

Samael - "For a Thousand Years" from Lux Mundi (2011)

4.5/5. H*ll yeah to this track too! Far better than that similarly titled Christina Perri song.

Illidiance - "Open Your Eyes" from Open Your Eyes (2019)

4/5. An interesting cyber metal take on a song by Guano Apes.

Clawerfield - "Bend the Sky" from Butterflies of Smoke (2016)

4.5/5. Another underrated band for sure! Clawerfield have their djent-ish cyber metal sound similar to The Interbeing, with slight hints of metalcore. An amazing direction, I would say! I especially love the d*mn catchy chorus. Meshuggah have done their job well in planting the seed for this young league of djent-infused bands.

Mechina, Melrose - "Cryoshock" from Progenitor (2016)

4/5. Quite futuristic and mesmerzing, right from the intro onwards. "Oh the price that we pay for the lives we betrayed..." If we could have more of Mechina's sound from the mid-2010s in the future, I would head back to listening to that band more. Basically Fear Factory gone Nightwish!

Black Comedy - "Favourite Hateobject" from Instigator (2008)

4.5/5. Perhaps one of my favorite Black Comedy songs that I would never hate!

Fear of Domination - "II" from Distorted Delusions (2014)

5/5. One of the best gems of this Fear of Domination album!

Harms Way, King Woman - "Undertow" from Common Suffering (2023)

5/5. An awesome experimental highlight featuring Kristina Esfandiari (King Woman). It has a more haunting industrial sound, enough for this one to qualify for The Sphere.

Motionless in White, Jonathan Davis - "Necessary Evil" from Graveyard Shift (2017)

4.5/5. I still love this track despite not listening to this band as much as I used to. Not only does it feature Jonathan Davis of Korn, but the chorus interpolates that of the Lesley Gore hit "It's My Party". One other song that has done that is "Pity Party" by Melanie Martinez.

Unheilig - "Kleine Puppe" from Puppenspiel (2008)

4/5. A cool kick-A track. Although I don't usually enjoy Neue Deutsche Harte, I'm probably the only person in my country Malaysia aware of that genre besides Rammstein.

Semargl - "Loneliness" from SATANIC POP METAL (2012)

3.5/5. Not as satanic as the band claims this album to be, but a little too poppy for this dance-y industrial metal sound.

Rammstein - "Mehr" from Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (2009)

4/5. Rammstein can make something contemplative whether or not you can understand their language. The bridge sounds more uplifting than anything else they've done.

Sybreed - "Critical Mass" from Slave Design (2004)

4.5/5. This one is an interesting closing track. It starts off sounding almost like the second Embodyment album The Narrow Scope of Things, but it slowly rises into the usual cyber metal that Illidiance would later have. But we still have a couple more tracks for this playlist...

Turmion Katilot - "To Be Contiuned Act 1" from Technodiktator (2013)

4/5. This one is a bit confusing. Not just in the name, but it's also the band's longest song. Now I like long epics, but I prefer the edition without the 4 minutes of Finnish dialogue in the middle of the song, and even then, they should've shortened the rest to around a length of 6 minutes. Still a climatic epic!

Lord of the Lost - "The Days of Our Lives" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 (2026)

4.5/5. The grand finale of this playlist and the Opvs Noir saga. Vocalist Chris Harms and keyboardist Gerrit Heinemann perform their respective roles, shining as the vocals and keys close the gates on a solemn note.

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:

Invent Animate - "Fall Like Rain" from Fall Like Rain (2026)

5/5. Invent Animate are back with a brutal banger. After blending their metalcore with Periphery-style djent for so long, they now blend it with Vildhjarta-style THALL.

Eighteen Visions - "I Let Go" from Obsession (2024 re-recording)

4.5/5. In 2024, Eighteen Visions re-recorded their album Obsession for its 20th anniversary, and they made it even heavier, heavy enough to be considered metalcore. The original song was in Burnout 3, so maybe if that video game was remastered, they would include this new version of the song.

Downswing - "Disease" from Dark Side of the Mind (2017)

4/5. Brutal hardcore/metalcore, sometimes almost as dark as The Acacia Strain.

Wage War - "4x4" from IT CALLS ME BY NAME (2026)

4.5/5. I seem to lose interest in the more alt-ish metalcore bands lately, probably because I've had enough of alt-metal. Wage War is one of those bands, though I still enjoy this kick-A track that my brother likes as well.

No Cure - "Convulsing in the Dark" from Convulsing in the Dark (2026)

4/5. G****mn, this band can really crank up their hardcore/metalcore hard, even a bit of deathcore too.

Guilt Trip - "Disdain" from Unrelenting Force (2016)

3.5/5. Who knew a short track can cause a huge impact of heaviness? This is the kind of music that should catch on in the metalcore realms! The breakdown is so mosh-worthy and emotional at the same time. The song would be much better if it wasn't so short though.

Harper - "Thorn in My Side" from Thorn in My Side (2025)

3/5. Holy cow, this girl can do metalcore screams so well, and she's what, 13?! Harper has a bright future ahead of her! This song's a little too Spiritbox-esque for me though.

Samurai Pizza Cats - "City of Gold" from Press Start (2026)

2.5/5. Too electronicore for my palate, but I give it some points for Sebastian Fischer's vocals.

VCTMS - "Lobotomy" from Sickness: Vol. 1 (2014)

3/5. F***ing sick guitarwork in this one, yet that's all that's really special here.

Iridium - "Nihility" from Sub-Zero (2019)

3.5/5. A better discovery that I see some potential in.

Attack Attack! - "Kickin' Wing, Animal Doctor" from Someday Came Suddenly (2008)

4/5. Confess sins, accept truth... A spiritual message for an electronicore/screamo track.

Black Veil Brides - "Vindicate" from Vindicate (2026)

4.5/5. Some of the f***ing heaviest amazing sh*t this band has had since We Stitch These Wounds to help you get through the pain of life.

Harms Way - "Heaven's Call" from Common Suffering (2023)

5/5. Another perfect track! Just pure heaviness that I'm glad was submitted to this playlist.

Adept - "Secrets" from Silence the World (2013)

4.5/5. It's no secret that some metalcore bands can make bangers that have long-lasting greatness. The breakdown that starts the last minute is so brutal.

Cage Fight - "Exuvia" from Exuvia (2026)

4/5. You may know Rachel Aspe for her stunning performance of a Sybreed song in France's equivalent to America's Got Talent, but she would later form her own band.

Knut - "Whacked Out" from Challenger (2002)

4.5/5. Straight on into pummeling madness, this wacky track opens its original album with discordant guitar and thick bass before a Botch-like math-metalcore groove. The chaotic guitar flows through frantic drumming and heavy rhythm.

The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Room Full of Eyes" from Option Paralysis (2010)

5/5. A spine-chilling highlight, not because of the creepy song title but also the song itself, especially when vocalist Greg Puciato screams "'CAUSE WE REAP WHAT WE SOW!!!" during the ending.

Snapcase - "Fields of Illusion" from Lookinglasself (1993)

4.5/5. Snapcase have shaped up metalcore in its very early days, and that is no illusion.

Johnny Booth - "Sleeping with Serpents" from Connections (2012)

4/5. Johnny Booth has pretty much resurrected and modernized early hardcore/metalcore for the -core masses.

Atreyu - "The Theft" from A Death-Grip on Yesterday (2006)

4.5/5. Even when this one sounds like a power ballad, it explodes into the usual melodic metalcore with the powerful vocals of Alex Varkatzas.

Northlane - "Masquerade" from Singularity (2013)

5/5. The aggression really levels up in perhaps the strongest track of this Northlane album with something special, guest vocals by Drew York of Stray from the Path. The catchy chorus is what makes this song a total highlight, along with lyrical fire and breakdown brutality.

Sylosis - "Lacerations" from The New Flesh (2026)

4.5/5. Bangers like this really need to catch on in the metal world.

Bleed from Within - "Immortal Desire" from Zenith (2025)

5/5. My favorite song from the new Bleed from Within album. The intro guitar melody alongside the choir and strings is THE SH*T. This song can even go as f***ing progressive as Mastodon, helped out by that band's drummer/co-lead vocalist Brann Dailor guest appearing here.

Asking Alexandria - "A Prophecy" from Stand Up and Scream (2009)

4.5/5. Where the h*ll have I been away from this band?! This song still rules after all these years!

The Agonist - "Burn It All Down" from Orphans (2019)

5/5. I just love the vocal abilities Vicky Psarakis has, it's so wild.

Stevie T - "French Deathcore Song" from French Deathcore Song (2015)

4.5/5. Can French lyrics really work in deathcore? Stevie T has proven that theory with hilarious yet brutal results. "LE CROISSANT!!!!"

Silent Civilian - "Dead to Me 2006" from Rebirth of the Temple (2006)

5/5. If you're wondering if this standout is a re-recording of a song by Jonny Santos' other band Spineshank, no it ain't. They just added "2006" to the title to avoid confusion. Still an awesome song to me!

Fit for a King, Chris Motionless - "Witness the End" from Witness the End (2025)

4.5/5. Symphonic blackened METALcore?!? This is true heavy fire, featuring Motionless in White's Chris Motionless!

We Butter the Bread with Butter - "Extrem" from Das Monster Aus Dem Schrank (2008)

5/5. WBTBWM has shown us how extreme can be, starting with a funny intro that sounds like a constipated attempt at screaming the song title. Then we get to some sludgy deathcore. Now this breakdown is listed by Stevie T as one of the "top 10 messed up breakdowns", and for good reason. This is a f***ing pulverizing breakdown that gets slower and heavier to the point of drone. And finally a beautiful ending with piano, synths, and drop C-tuned riffing. What more can you ask for?!

Humanity's Last Breath - "The Aftermath" from Structures Collapse (2011)

4.5/5. This one starts off soft and eerie then explodes into a hardcore frenzy. It is much better executed with brutal growls and riffs pack a punch together with sinister melodies. If there's a true highlight for the original Humanity's Last Breath offering, it's gotta be that one!

Worm Shepherd - "Whispers of a Dying Land" from Dawn of the Iconoclast (2026)

5/5. It all comes down to the grand 7-minute closing epic. From the orchestral/choral grandeur to towering riffing and breakdown, it's a dark glorious experience that should be worth it for any fan of deathcore and/or epic deathcore. It doesn't surpass the previous Worm Shepherd album's ending epic, but it's very close.

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!

Submissions accepted! Thanks, Sonny.

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

The Contortionist – Primal Directive (2010)

4.5/5. The Contortionist started off as a progressive deathcore band in Exoplanet that would then gradually become softer in subsequent albums. Even then, this song has some sweet ethereal melody. Bands like this have helped this record label Good Fight win the good fight. At least Periphery still have their djenty sound from their own debut.

Green Carnation – My Dark Reflections of Life and Death (2020)

5/5. Now we get to the re-recording of a 15-minute epic from Green Carnation's debut Journey to the End of the Night. The melody fades in before the drumming starts to build up, going from doomy to mid-paced. And finally, the distorted guitar enters and we get some cool doomy riffing. Vocals don't start until just under the 4-minute mark, and it has to be said, Kjetil Nordhus is a much better male vocalist than Rx Draumtanzer, the latter's singing being too stretched out in the original. It would still be nice if we could get some death growls in place of that. Never mind that, he's great with his deep drama. Soon the heavy distortion drops, having more of that acoustic clean guitar. It used to fade to practically silence, but the music can still be heard as everything rises back up, including more of Kjetil's drama. By the way, there's also none of the female chanting that occurs in the original. Still, different melodies in the music and vocals make that epic the true highlight of the album, like the original is for the debut.

Growth – Gird Your Loved in Armour While Yet You Wither (2020)

4.5/5. An 11-minute gauntlet in which they're not gonna leave peacefully. The technical fury is here to stay until the very end.

Haken – In a Fever Dream (2026)

4/5. First Karnivool made their comeback, then Plini, then Periphery... And now, Haken has reawakened after the departure of two of their longtime members Charles Griffiths and Connor Green. And HOLY SH*T, is that Ross Jennings screaming?!? He sounds as monstrous as the last time he was doing screamed vocals! That last time being in their debut Aquarius. And if you're wondering who the bassist is for this song, it's the prolific Bryan Beller.

Mandroid Echostar – Citadels (2013)

4.5/5. The sound here is quite excellent, basically melodic progressive metal with some small hints of folk/power metal. You definitely wanna stick around for the final third of the song with its beautiful electric soloing and acoustic outro.

Nine Orders – The Vast Forgotten (2026)

4/5. That was a lot of orders, you sure the restaurant staff can handle all that? OK, but seriously, this modernized melodic prog-metal ride is still going.

The Ocean – Hadopelagic II: Let Them Believe (2013)

4.5/5. "Let them believe in themselves..." And also let them believe in marine biology. The beauty of this music touches my heart. Besides having that post-sludge sound similar to Cult of Luna, they can also go as progressive as Katatonia and TOOL, the latter particularly midway through. I really need to listen to this album Pelagial, I remember how much I considered that album a masterpiece.

Persefone – Prison Skin (2017)

4/5. You find yourself confined in a state of unawareness within the dark "Prison Skin" that you refuse to be held captive in. You start to struggle to find your way through without any distracting assaults holding you back, before getting to positive power... To be continued in the next Infinite playlist, I guess.

Ben, please add the new Neurotech album In Delta Negative.

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Culprit - "Guilty as Charged" from Guilty as Charged (1983)

4.5/5. The 6-minute title opener of this prog-ish classic heavy metal album has some heaviness in the guitar while staying melodic, which adds to the ambition. The fast pace has great variation to keep listeners awake. It's pretty much a grand example of the sound from both the album and the band.

Leaves' Eyes - "Leaves Whisper" from Into Your Light (2004)

5/5. One of the best Leaves' Eyes tracks! I probably could've saved it for later on in this playlist, but it's too good to be put that late.

Black Sabbath - "The Mob Rules" from Mob Rules (1981)

4.5/5. RIP DIO. Some may know this amazing song from its alternate version appearing in the film Heavy Metal from the same year. A classic metal anthem!

DOMINUM - "Doctor Doctor" from Doctor Doctor (2026)

4/5. Ehh, what the f***'s up, doc?! For those wondering if this is a cover of a UFO song, no it ain't!

Accept - "Diving Into Sin" from Humanoid (2024)

4.5/5. A kick-A banger that's probably the best of this Accept album! And this came out close to the release of the new Judas Priest album.

Heavy Load - "Heavy Metal Angels (In Metal and Leather)" from Death or Glory (1982)

4/5. Some more of this solid classic heavy metal from the 80s. Leather-clad angels will soar!

Europe - "Seven Doors Hotel" from EUROPE (1983)

4.5/5. Hard to imagine that the band that made "The Final Countdown" had more of a thrash-ish heavy/proto-power metal sound in their first two albums, but here we are. And honestly, I love this track much more than the one that would become their ultimate hit. But at least it would stay a solid live staple.

Iron Maiden - "The Trooper" from Piece of Mind (1983)

4/5. Before the rise of thrash, classic heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden striking through with great hits like this one.

Diamond Head - "Am I Evil" from Borrowed Time (1982)

3.5/5. Diamond Head re-recorded one of their most well-known songs from their debut Lightning to the Nations as a bonus track for their second album Borrowed Time. Although the intro riffing is quite strong, it's actually a bit slower than the first version, as is the rest of the song. Still it has the thrashy power that would encourage Metallica to cover that song later, giving both bands' versions almost as much notability as that Maiden hit. The 1980 version is better on its own though.

Pagan Altar - "Liston Church" from Never Quite Dead (2025)

3/5. I'm actually not quite sure why I added in this song. It sounds a little too doomy here, and also a little tame for my standards. Nonetheless, it's pretty cool hearing the basswork by Diccon Harper, who was in DragonForce's debut album Valley of the Damned along with its demo.

Saxon - "Witches of Salem" from Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024)

3.5/5. Actually I think I know why I added in that Pagan Altar song. This Saxon one that follows has that similar waltzing pace. However, it has a better, more heavy metal vibe than the Pagan Altar one.

Legend - "Prologue" from Death in the Nursery (1982)

4/5. Some more genuine NWOBHM to be thankful for.

Riot V - "High Noon" from Mean Streets (2024)

4.5/5. Just like Accept and Judas Priest, Riot V are still shining strong in their 50-year career. They're really doing justice to the late Mark Reale's legacy. RIP

Motorhead - "No Class" from Overkill (1978)

4/5. What do some kids in school wish they would have? NO CLASS! The lyrics here are quite great and deep. RIP Lemmy

Dark Moor - "Somewhere in Dreams" from The Hall of the Olden Dreams (2000)

4.5/5. Then we blast off into this song that I enjoyed to bits when I was in the power metal zone. When I first encountered that song all those years ago, it was love at first hearing. I knew I had to listen to the rest of the album and the band's material right away. It's one of my favorite Dark Moor songs to this day and I'll never get tired of it.

Sirenia - "Love Like Cyanide" from Arcane Astral Aeons (2018)

5/5. Just like how I'll never get tired of this song after having only started listening to this band full-time a few months ago. They've done everything well here.

Nightwish - "Gethsemane" from Oceanborn (1998)

4.5/5. Another beautiful song that still touches my metal heart after over a decade. The music, lyrics, and vocals are so wondrous, especially leading to the outro.

Seven Spires - "Architect of Creation" from A Fortress Called Home (2024)

5/5. Nowadays, I like the more extreme-tinged symphonic metal better. Adrienne Cowan is one of the most underrated female metal vocalists. Her vocal range is incredible!

Elvenking - "Pagan Revolution" from The Pagan Manifesto (2014)

4.5/5. F***ing fun Pagan power metal right here! One of my favorite songs by this band.

Alestorm - "Drink" from Sunset on the Golden Age (2014)

4.5/5. Alestorm is another band mastering folk/power metal, this time on the more pirate side of things.

Follow the Cipher - "Valkyria" from Follow the Cipher (2018)

5/5. I seem to discover some bands with a wide-ranged female vocalist lately. Linda Toni Grahn's vocals can strike like lightning. Too bad she left the band after one album.

Kamelot - "The Human Stain" from Ghost Opera (2007)

4.5/5. Another excellent song from another essential band in my earlier power metal era.

Tyr - "Battle Ballad" from Battle Ballads (2024)

4.5/5. One of the mightiest tracks here. Everything's a small journey in this song! It's almost like Devin Townsend helped produced it alongside the album's actual producer Jacob Hansen. The bass should still be as audible as the rest, honestly.

Elvellon - "Dreamcatcher" from Until Dawn (2018)

5/5. OK, my earlier claim that I like the more extreme-tinged symphonic metal better isn't really false. However, there are some melodic symphonic metal songs and bands that I love. This one is quite beautiful and has some similar vibes in the instrumentation to the brighter upbeat side of Kamelot.

Haggard - "Awaking the Centuries" from Awaking the Centuries (2000)

4.5/5. A beautiful medieval symphonic metal epic that I wish had discovered over a decade before this comment.

Beyond the Black - "Welcome to My Wasteland" from Horizons (2020)

5/5. And finally, one last awesome symphonic metal song to share. Enjoy the wasteland!

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!

Here's my review summary:

I've checked out this band Genitorturers before, and I thought their material was pretty great. However, what was holding me back from fully enjoying this band is the amount of NSFW and BDSM they have in their aesthetics and lyrics. While I don't totally mind all that, it's obviously not the kind of band to share in the world outside the internet. With that said, the music can entertain me quite well. First track "Lecher B***h" is best known for appearing in the soundtrack for the video game Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. Sadly for me, it's f***ing bad. This is where I draw the line in the band's BDSM themes being too on the nose. Luckily, the rest of the EP has the music and lyrics better executed, even in a couple of the live renditions of earlier tracks that make up the second half of the EP, though a couple others still fall flat. Besides the energetic music, the vocals of Gen have that perfect primal edge that fits in well with the sound. And honestly, the usage of electronics blended with this metal sound is similar to that of one of Fear Factory's earlier remix releases. Maybe if this band wasn't so BDSM-heavy, they would have the mainstream success Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails have had. Still, Flesh is the Law is a good EP worth listening to. Just skip the bad tracks and keep the highlights to your own self-entertainment....

3.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Flesh is the Law", "House of Shame", "Guns Are Good", "All Hell Breaks Loose"

For fans of: KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, Omega Lithium

June 2026

1. Treponem Pal - "Ghost Rider" from Dead Inside (2025)

2. S.U.P. - "Insect Drug" from Imago (2005)

3. Neurotech - "Withstand the Agony" from Withstand the Agony (2026) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Static-X - "Jic Boi" from Project Regeneration Vol. 2 (2024)

5. Die Krupps - "To the Hilt" from II - The Final Option (1993)

6. Gothminister - "616" from Anima Inferna (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. PAIN - "Parallel to Ecstasy" from Rebirth (1999)

8. Genitorturers - "Flesh is the Law" from Flesh is the Law (2002)

9. The Amenta - "Angry Chair" from Plague of Locus (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Bile - "I Reject" from ReGurge:a Bucket of Bile (2004)

11. Combichrist, King 810 - "Demons Wanna Be Summoned" from Demons Wanna Be Summoned (2026)

12. Celldweller - "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked) (Combichrist Remix)" from End of an Empire: The Remixes (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Samael - "For a Thousand Years" from Lux Mundi (2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Illidiance - "Open Your Eyes" from Open Your Eyes (2019)

15. Clawerfield - "Bend the Sky" from Butterflies of Smoke (2016)

16. Mechina, Melrose - "Cryoshock" from Progenitor (2016)

17. Black Comedy - "Favourite Hateobject" from Instigator (2008)

18. Fear of Domination - "II" from Distorted Delusions (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Harms Way, King Woman - "Undertow" from Common Suffering (2023)

20. Motionless in White, Jonathan Davis - "Necessary Evil" from Graveyard Shift (2017)

21. Unheilig - "Kleine Puppe" from Puppenspiel (2008)

22. Semargl - "Loneliness" from SATANIC POP METAL (2012)

23. Rammstein - "Mehr" from Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (2009)

24. Sybreed - "Critical Mass" from Slave Design (2004)

25. Turmion Katilot - "To Be Contiuned Act 1" from Technodiktator (2013)

26. Lord of the Lost - "The Days of Our Lives" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 (2026)

June 2026

1. Invent Animate - "Fall Like Rain" from Fall Like Rain (2026)

2. Eighteen Visions - "I Let Go" from Obsession (2024 re-recording) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Downswing - "Disease" from Dark Side of the Mind (2017)

4. Wage War - "4x4" from IT CALLS ME BY NAME (2026)

5. No Cure - "Convulsing in the Dark" from Convulsing in the Dark (2026)

6. Guilt Trip - "Disdain" from Unrelenting Force (2016)

7. Harper - "Thorn in My Side" from Thorn in My Side (2025)

8. Samurai Pizza Cats - "City of Gold" from Press Start (2026)

9. VCTMS - "Lobotomy" from Sickness: Vol. 1 (2014)

10. Iridium - "Nihility" from Sub-Zero (2019)

11. Attack Attack! - "Kickin' Wing, Animal Doctor" from Someday Came Suddenly (2008)

12. Black Veil Brides - "Vindicate" from Vindicate (2026)

13. Harms Way - "Heaven's Call" from Common Suffering (2023) [submitted by Vinny]

14. Adept - "Secrets" from Silence the World (2013)

15. Cage Fight - "Exuvia" from Exuvia (2026)

16. Knut - "Whacked Out" from Challenger (2002) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Room Full of Eyes" from Option Paralysis (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. Snapcase - "Fields of Illusion" from Lookinglasself (1993)

19. Johnny Booth - "Sleeping with Serpents" from Connections (2012)

20. Atreyu - "The Theft" from A Death-Grip on Yesterday (2006)

21. Northlane - "Masquerade" from Singularity (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

22. Sylosis - "Lacerations" from The New Flesh (2026)

23. Bleed from Within - "Immortal Desire" from Zenith (2025) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

24. Asking Alexandria - "A Prophecy" from Stand Up and Scream (2009)

25. The Agonist - "Burn It All Down" from Orphans (2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Stevie T - "French Deathcore Song" from French Deathcore Song (2015)

27. Silent Civilian - "Dead to Me 2006" from Rebirth of the Temple (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

28. Fit for a King, Chris Motionless - "Witness the End" from Witness the End (2025)

29. We Butter the Bread with Butter - "Extrem" from Das Monster Aus Dem Schrank (2008)

30. Humanity's Last Breath - "The Aftermath" from Structures Collapse (2011)

31. Worm Shepherd - "Whispers of a Dying Land" from Dawn of the Iconoclast (2026)

June 2026

1. Culprit - "Guilty as Charged" from Guilty as Charged (1983)

2. Leaves' Eyes - "Leaves Whisper" from Into Your Light (2004) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Black Sabbath - "The Mob Rules" from Mob Rules (1981)

4. DOMINUM - "Doctor Doctor" from Doctor Doctor (2026)

5. Accept - "Diving Into Sin" from Humanoid (2024)

6. Heavy Load - "Heavy Metal Angels (In Metal and Leather)" from Death or Glory (1982)

7. Europe - "Seven Doors Hotel" from EUROPE (1983)

8. Iron Maiden - "The Trooper" from Piece of Mind (1983)

9. Diamond Head - "Am I Evil" from Borrowed Time (1982)

10. Pagan Altar - "Liston Church" from Never Quite Dead (2025)

11. Saxon - "Witches of Salem" from Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024)

12. Legend - "Prologue" from Death in the Nursery (1982)

13. Riot V - "High Noon" from Mean Streets (2024)

14. Motorhead - "No Class" from Overkill (1978)

15. Dark Moor - "Somewhere in Dreams" from The Hall of the Olden Dreams (2000)

16. Sirenia - "Love Like Cyanide" from Arcane Astral Aeons (2018) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. Nightwish - "Gethsemane" from Oceanborn (1998)

18. Seven Spires - "Architect of Creation" from A Fortress Called Home (2024) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Elvenking - "Pagan Revolution" from The Pagan Manifesto (2014)

20. Alestorm - "Drink" from Sunset on the Golden Age (2014)

21. Follow the Cipher - "Valkyria" from Follow the Cipher (2018)

22. Kamelot - "The Human Stain" from Ghost Opera (2007)

23. Tyr - "Battle Ballad" from Battle Ballads (2024)

24. Elvellon - "Dreamcatcher" from Until Dawn (2018)

25. Haggard - "Awaking the Centuries" from Awaking the Centuries (2000) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Beyond the Black - "Welcome to My Wasteland" from Horizons (2020) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

Update for July:

THE FALLEN: Sonny, Vinny

THE GATEWAY: Saxy

THE GUARDIANS: Andi, Sonny, Xephyr

THE HORDE: Vinny, Sonny

THE INFINITE: Xephyr, Saxy, Andi

THE NORTH: Sonny, Xephyr, Vinny

THE PIT: Vinny, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: Andi

THE SPHERE: Andi

I've decided to step down from nominating The Gateway feature releases, since the well has run dry for which feature releases for me to nominate and I'm pretty much done contributing to the clan. I hope you don't mind being on your own in submitting The Gateway feature releases, Saxy.

Thanks for your feedback, Sonny. Now a bit of a spoiler for the June Guardians playlist that will come out this Monday: It has a little more symphonic metal emphasis than this one because I was in that kind of mood when doing my sneak peek submissions, but I've made sure there's enough classic heavy metal to please you and other fans of the genre.

I haven't listened to Sun Eater before, but I know that the current vocalist for Mental Cruelty, Lukas Nicolai was in that band. I should check out their album Death Crown sometime, and this submission gives me a great heavy feeling about it. Thanks, Vinny! I shall add it to the July Revolution playlist.

Ben, please add the new Orphaned Land live album A Heaven You May Create.

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

The first time I heard this band was when I was listening to a song from their debut Union in an Infinite playlist 6 months before this review. I thought the song was a nice stylistic homage to Periphery from start to finish. And now I can say the same about their new album Legacy! They're a new addition to the melodic modern progressive metal league of Leprous, Haken, The Contortionist, and Tesseract. It took 5 years for this British progressive metal/rock band to make this follow-up to 2019's Union. Part of the delay was due to the hardships of the COVID lockdowns. But now they're here to deliver us this progressive offering. You can really hear both the production and talent from the two key members of the band; guitarist Phil Monro and vocalist Andy Robison. They, along with the other members, work together to craft complex structures in which ambience turns into metal grace, from decent-length 5-minute tracks to long epics. This beautiful album Legacy has all the melody and power you can get. Well, maybe a slight more metal heaviness would be ideal, but that's OK. I look forward to what path they would take. The modern progressive metal/rock shaped up by VOLA and BTBAM is in the good hands of these young British lads!

4.5/5

I really want to get into more of the post-sludge of bands like Neurosis, Isis, Cult of Luna, and Rosetta, but there are a couple things that set me back on my exploration. One thing is the amount of genres I'm already focused on like metalcore, industrial metal, power metal, and progressive metal, which gives me little time to explore the more niche genres. Emphasis on "niche" because there really aren't many prominent post-sludge bands other than the 4 I've already mentioned, The Ocean, and Sumac. And the genre seemed to die down when I was trying to get into it a few years ago. That is, until recently when that promising Dimscua release came out and Neurosis surprise-released their new album with Aaron Turner (Isis/Sumac/Greymachine) replacing Scott Kelly, so there may be hope for post-sludge in the future.

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

The Amenta - "Angry Chair" (6:31) from Plague of Locus (2023)

Celldweller - "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked) (Combichrist Remix)" (3:52) from End of an Empire: The Remixes (2015)

Fear of Domination - "II" (4:35) from Distorted Delusions (2014)

Gothminister - "616" (3:22) from Anima Inferna (2011)

Neurotech - "Withstand the Agony" (3:58) from Withstand the Agony (2026)

Samael - "For a Thousand Years" (4:55) from Lux Mundi (2011)

Total length: 27:13

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

The Agonist - "Burn It All Down" (3:33) from Orphans (2019)

Bleed from Within - "Immortal Desire" (4:16) from Zenith (2025)

The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Room Full of Eyes" (4:15) from Option Paralysis (2010)

Eighteen Visions - "I Let Go" (3:18) from Obsession (2024 re-recording)

Knut - "Whacked Out" (5:25) from Challenger (2002)

Northlane - "Masquerade" (3:33) from Singularity (2013)

Silent Civilian - "Dead to Me 2006" (5:06) from Rebirth of the Temple (2006)

Total length: 29:26

Here are my submissions for the June Infinite playlist, having just two long epics in mind:

Green Carnation - "My Dark Reflections of Life and Death" (15:37) from Leaves of Yesteryear (2020)

Growth - "Gird Your Loved in Armour While Yet You Wither" (11:09) from The Smothering Arms of Mercy (2020)

Total length: 26:46

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

Beyond the Black - "Welcome to My Wasteland" (3:49) from Horizons (2020)

Haggard - "Awaking the Centuries" (9:34) from Awaking the Centuries (2000)

Leaves' Eyes - "Leaves Whisper" (3:39) from Into Your Light (2004)

Seven Spires - "Architect of Creation" (5:37) from A Fortress Called Home (2024)

Sirenia - "Love Like Cyanide" (5:49) from Arcane Astral Aeons (2018)

Total length: 28:28

Here are my thoughts on all selected tracks:

Code Orange - "(deeperthanbefore)" from Underneath (2020)

4/5. A suitable electronic intro for how deep the band is gonna get in diversity.

Oddko - "Disobey" from Disobey (2019)

3.5/5. Oddko can also be a bit diverse in their electro-industrial metal domination.

Rammstein - "Mein Teil" from Reise, Reise (2004)

4/5. Rammstein can make a song and music video about something so disturbing and still have mainstream success. The song is based on a real-life case of cannibalism in which a man named Armin Meiwes murdered and cannibalized another man he found in the internet, including eating his privates. So morbid yet an intriguing song.

Celldweller - "My Disintegration (Joe Ford Remix)" from Satellites (Remixed) (2023)

4.5/5. We need more music like this heard globally, and Joe Ford and Celldweller to keep their collabs going. Honestly, Celldweller should someday do remixes of songs by Infected Mushroom and the Prodigy. The only things that would be disintegrated are people's ears if they turn it up to full blast. And hey, maybe Joe Ford can also remix "Shapshifter". This wicked remix would take your breath away and give it back repeatedly. Who knew something that might be based on the past can sound futuristic?

Fear Factory - "Scapegoat" from Soul of a New Machine (1992)

4/5. The criminal justice system has its flaws pointed out in this killer track.

Waltari - "Progression" from Space Avenue (1997)

3.5/5. Space Avenue shows Waltari at their more progressive and industrial.

Iperyt - "Antihuman Hate Generator" from No State of Grace (2011)

3/5. "There is no way of finding a single absolute truth, an irrefutable argument which might help answer the questions of mankind. Philosophy, therefore, is dead, because whereof we cannot speak, thereof we must be silent." I like how f***ing heavy this is, but I feel a little underwhelmed.

Circus of Dead Squirrels - "8-Bit Piece of Shit" from Indoor Recess (2004)

2.5/5. "Piece of Sh*t" is right. This is too much like if video game nerds try to make a KMFDM-inspired song. I can still applaud how clever they are when adding in the Mario soundtrack in the intro and outro. Vocalist Matt Foran has also formed a side-project with ex-Mushroomhead members, Ventana. This song can also go as weird as avant-garde. The lyrics are quite cringe for me, especially when he says "I must be r***rded to write a song about this sh*t". I suppose if I were to check out some avant-garde alt-metal, I would check out Dog Fashion Disco even though I haven't listened to that band in a long while.

Crossbreed - "Seasons" from Synthetic Division (2001)

3/5. This song is more crushing, emotional, and music video-worthy, sounding similar to Static-X and Dope.

Dagoba - "The Things Within" from What Hell is About (2006)

3.5/5. Good-quality industrial/groove metal that might make a great ringtone.

Rorschach Test - "New Blood Order" from The Eleventh (1994)

4/5. At around the same time Rorschach was pioneering metalcore, Rorschach Test was unleashing their own brand of dark industrial metal.

Neurotech - "The Race to Recovery" from The Decipher Volumes (2013)

4.5/5. "Erase me, don't tell me, I'll take you far away from here, delete me, complete me, in the race to recovery." If I had discovered this gem like 12 years ago when my I was starting off my metal taste nice and melodic, I would've loved it back then. I probably would've continued listening to this project if Wulf could bring back the sound of this song and the debut Antagonist, or maybe even as epic and extreme as Mechina. I also love the female vocals and the key-changed outro.

Pain - "Just Think Again" from Psalms of Extinction (2007)

5/5. The guitar soloing here is performed by Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho (RIP). The song itself is a special 6-minute epic.

Strapping Young Lad - "Far Beyond Metal" from The New Black (2006)

4.5/5. Strapping Young Lad can make a song making fun of metal and still make it metal. RIP the Maggot Master, Dave Brockie AKA Oderus Urungus (GWAR)...

Fear of Domination - "Punish Y.S." from Call of Schizophrenia (2009)

5/5. This rapid punisher really speeds up as rapid riff-tastic highlight. With some great production in the melodeath riffs blended with industrial synths, Norther would probably wish they had more of that.

Subway to Sally - "Herz in der Kinde" from Post Mortem (2024)

4.5/5. If anyone thought Neue Deutsche Harte and epic medieval metal wouldn't go together, Subway to Sally proved them wrong. And sometimes they can provide more than just the experience of music by making an animated video.

Autarkh - "Strife" from Emergent (2023)

4/5. Great guitarwork in this track, right off the bat! Fear Factory and Meshuggah are still the masters of guitar heaviness though.

Persher - "Medieval Soup From the Milkbar" from Sleep Well (2024)

4.5/5. I was expecting this band to go as medieval as Subway to Sally, but this experimental noise-ridden sound is quite killer.

Turmion Katilot - "Revi Minut Auki" from Global Warning (2020)

5/5. This highlight takes you back to the band's beginnings, especially their debut Hoitovirhe with the perfect spark of their earlier sound. Perfect for party rocking, despite the lyrics I don't dare to mention.

Treponem Pal - "Evil is Us - Lofofora Remix" from Evil Music for Evil People (2013)

4.5/5. Even remixes can maintain the evil vibes of the original song despite some electronic overusage.

Combichrist - "RISE" from RISE (2025)

4/5. All rise for some exciting aggrotech metal!

SUB DUB MICROMACHINE - "Road to Nowhere" from Auferstanden! (2008)

3.5/5. The quality is quite good, though the bass could've been more audible.

Static-X - "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" from Beneath...Between...Beyond (2004)

3/5. RIP Wayne Static. This is one of the most punky tracks by the band, even throwing back to a bit of their sound from the debut Wisconsin Death Trip. Quite fun but I feel like it could've been way better.

Vibrion - "Revenge" from Instinct (2002)

3.5/5. Not the best but slightly better. Vengeful deathly industrial metal right there.

Unheilig - "Ausblick (Outro)" from LIEBE GLAUBE MONSTER (2026)

4/5. I've been getting some slightly appear for NDH bands like Unheilig now, and I guess I can start small with one of their outro tracks. This is one beautiful and tear-jerking, sounding like the soundtrack to celebrating your victory in the path to freedom. So wonderful, and Hans Zimmer and Two Steps From Hell come to mind.

Mechina - "Blessings Upon the Field Where Blades Will Flood" from Blessings Upon the Field Where Blades Will Flood (2023)

4.5/5. We still have one more track left in this playlist, and of course, it's the final epic! You'll definitely wanna play Warframe and Star Wars Battlefront while listening to this 18-minute journey. And this is the last we hear from David Holch and his growling vocals before he left the band next year. Best of luck in his future endeavors...

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:

Ithilien - "Blindfolded" from Shaping the Soul (2017)

5/5. Starting its original album and this playlist is a slow march of guitars and Celtic instruments, then when the screaming vocals enter the picture, the drumming tempo really speeds up. This is basically the kind of soundtrack Game of Thrones needs for their enemy-slashing battles. And when the mid-paced folk sections come back on, they're for getting hammered, partying, and simply headbanging to the loud heaviness.

Phinehas - "Blood on My Knuckles" from The Last Word is Yours to Speak (2013)

5/5. "FACE YOUR WRATH!!!" Phinehas have made some awesome Christian metalcore, and their second album has some country/southern vibes. I love the riffing after the first chorus. The lyrical themes seem to continue from their debut Thegodmachine. Furthermore, the soloing is so beautiful and intense. I'm glad to include it in the playlist.

We Butter the Bread with Butter - "N!CE" from Das Album (2021)

4.5/5. Pretty nice, right? Nice in the heavy and not depressive sense.

Hope for the Dying - "Iniquitous" from Aletheia (2013)

5/5. This highlight kicks off with some European neoclassical shredding. Then the lyrics battle against false beliefs, "you almost believe the lies yourself". Lots of epic power despite being a short song compared to the rest of that album.

August Burns Red - "The Nameless" from The Nameless (2026)

4.5/5. August Burns Red still have their heavier metalcore roots to make me happy from the rage. Don't shoot the Messengers!

Boundaries - "Death Will Follow Me" from Death Will Follow Me (2026)

4/5. Some wild tempo changes here. They're going as hard as 156/Silence and TDWP's Zombie EPs. And it all leads to the brutal ending breakdown.

Ankor, SiM - "DANZO · Lying Ghost" from DANZO · Lying Ghost (2026)

3.5/5. Ankor are still cranking up good bangers, this one featuring MAH from SiM.

Mirrorcell, VCTMS - "Ichi" from Long Nights in Lovescape (2026)

4/5. This one deserves attention for its VCTMS guest feature and its intense heaviness. I heard that it's a common song to start listening to Mirrorcell, but that would've raised some people's expectations too high. Either way, another solid track!

Vision of Disorder - "The Craving" from Razed to the Ground (2015)

4.5/5. This one is slightly more progressive, having an unorthodox time signature. The power and strength makes that song another one of the best in the original album.

As I Lay Dying - "The Voices That Betray Me" from Beneath the Encasing of Ashes (2001) (based on A Long March: The First Recordings (2006))

5/5. I'm glad the Long March compilation is on Spotify, otherwise I wouldn't be able to add in this standout. In the middle is some well-made heavy sh*t.

ERRA - "Hybrid Earth" from Augment (2013)

4.5/5. An underrated song by ERRA. Their current vocalist JT Cavey should re-record their first two albums with the rest of the band.

Rise of the Northstar - "Back 2 Basics" from Back 2 Basics (2025)

5/5. I love it when a band goes back to their basic roots. I also love the guest vocals by Florent Salfati of Landmvrks.

Like Moths to Flames - "Burn in Water, Drown in Flame" from No Eternity in Gold (2020)

5/5. One of my favorite songs from that Like Moths to Flames album, with a catchy chorus to balance out with the heaviness. And it only gets better from there, reaching its height with the final BLEGH and riffing.

Excessive Force - "Misfortune" from In Your Blood (1995)

4.5/5. One of, if not THE best track of its original album. It's quite strong in the lyrical message of self-reflection and the kick-A riffing. The heavy drumming is also irresistible.

The Devil Wears Prada - "Swords, Dragons & Diet Coke" from Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord (2006)

5/5. Swords, Dragons, &....Diet Coke???? Well, some knights might be underaged or Muslims. This is one of the best songs by the band in the earlier part of their career. It is relatable for those who feel sadness from dead languages and lonely hearts. Christian melodic metalcore can help those get back up after feeling down.

The Agonist - "Immaculate Deception" from Days Before the World Wept (2021)

4.5/5. It's sad that The Agonist are no longer around. Vicky Psarakis can be considered the princess of melodeath/metalcore.

AVRALIZE - "Liminal" from Liminal (2025)

4/5. Another d*mn great track, though a little pop-ish.

Bleed from Within - "Escape Yourself" from Uprising (2013)

4.5/5. Extreme madness that needs more attention, especially in the final riffing outro.

Worm Shepherd - "Wilted Moon" from Ritual Hymns (2022)

5/5. The symphonics shine the best here. This epic highlight is almost a redux to the Lorna Shore track "And I Return to Nothingness".

A Wake in Providence - "Black Mass (feat. Dickie Allen)" from Insidious: Phase II (2017)

4.5/5. A nearly 6-minute epic with great drumming flow from Anthony Dipietro. I enjoy the alternation between Ramos' growls and the screams of Dickie Allen (Infant Annihilator, later Nekrogoblikon). Nothing ever sounds weak there! Their ex-vocalist Will Ramos has that monstrous intensity that would continue to stun listeners 5 years later in his time with Lorna Shore. Absolutely insane!

The Last Ten Seconds of Life - "Sacrifice (the Prince)" from Soulless Hymns (2015)

5/5. So d*mn perfect, absolutely impressive with the brutal music and irreligious lyrics. F*** yeah!

Within Destruction - "Death Awaits Us All" from Deathwish (2018)

5/5. Another 5-minute epic with some great variation. As far as their later sound would go, that one's pretty close.

Frontierer - "Mt. Swath" from Orange Mathematics (2015)

4.5/5. This one is never a disappointment. The rage from the bass and downtuned guitars can pack some punches even in the lowest mix.

Psyopus - "Ms. Sunflower" from Odd Senses (2009)

5/5. One of the best songs by this band. Even something dark, dissonant, and chaotic like during the final minute can comfort me.

Invent Animate, Silent Planet - "Armageddon Eyes" from Bloom in Heaven (2025)

4.5/5. What would you call this collaboration project? Silent Invention? Animated Planet? Nonetheless, an amazing multi-band work!

Northlane, In Hearts Wake - "Equinox" from Equinox (2016)

5/5. It's not every day an interlude deserves a perfect 5 stars. It's what connects the two songs of the Northlane/In Hearts Wake collaboration EP together and is a beautiful smooth interlude. It works as a prelude to something big to close things off, which is kinda the reason for this submission.

Darkest Hour - "Accessible Losses" from Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (2003)

4.5/5. Darkest Hour have built the bridge between melodeath and metalcore in tracks like this 8-minute epic. It's just f***ing wild, save for a long yet pleasant soft bridge midway through. And it works well when paired with one last epic...

Bullet for My Valentine - "The End" from The Poison (2005)

5/5. I really love this great end to another metalcore journey. More mellow and depressing but still stands out well. The guitar riff is so simple, Matt can focus on more emotion in his vocals in the cleaner verses. I wish he could keep doing that emotional technique but that would mean he would have to drop the guitar full-time. The song gets heavier but once again, there's no solo. Then it returns to the intro riff used as the outro with soft guitar harmony over it as it all fades out. Another personal favorite!

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!

Thanks, Daniel. I say my view is that Culprit album and those first 3 Queensryche albums are progressive metal, whether mostly or to some extent, yet they haven't cut the bridge between that genre and heavy metal, unlike Fates Warning when they went pure melodic progressive metal from No Exit onwards and Dream Theater which has always been an Infinite band. With that in mind, I'll be voting NO there.

I shall check out that album at some point. Thanks again!

You got it, Xephyr. Welcome back aboard!

THE FALLEN: Vinny, Sonny

THE GATEWAY: Saxy, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: Xephyr, Andi, Sonny

THE HORDE: Sonny, Vinny

THE INFINITE: Andi, Xephyr, Saxy

THE NORTH: Vinny, Sonny, Xephyr

THE PIT: Sonny, Vinny

THE REVOLUTION: Andi

THE SPHERE: Andi

Submission accepted, thanks Vinny! I've heard of Harms Way but haven't actually listened to them yet, so that track would be a great start. RIP Bo Lueders

Once again, another Infinite playlist I felt up to breezing through entirely. Great work, Saxy! Here are all my track thoughts:

An Abstract Illusion – Emmett (2025)

5/5. Let's starts with one of two 11-minute epics, and this one is full of absolute complex rage! The guitars, leads, and keys are all embraced by the chaos that only become somber by the end. Incredible!

Black Crown Initiate – Withering Waves (2014)

4.5/5. I wonder if anyone has listened to this song while playing that game I keep hearing about, Wuthering Waves. Either way, amazing guitar to start the second third.

Mr. Bungle – My Ass is on Fire (1991)

4/5. Somebody's gonna get toasty buns. Quite an underrated track from a band that started doing masks before Slipknot and Mushroomhead.

Disillusion – Am Abgrund (2022)

4.5/5. I haven't heard from this band in a long time. All I remember is checking out their 3 albums before Ayam (I know it's Maya backwards, but it's also Malay for chicken). This epic has made me remember how epic I thought those albums were. Honestly, we need more of these dark heavy epics that have a positive theme. I really need to check out that album Ayam someday and see if it is the work of art I've missed out on for so long. And maybe I can catch up with those Times of Splendor with that amazing composition. The time signatures are quite a lot and used well. I also need to revisit the more melancholic yet heavy bands like Opeth and Katatonia. Nothing disappoints!

The Faceless – The Spiraling Void (2017)

5/5. I love how clean the distortion sounds here. This band has a lot more diverse variety than other bands signed to Sumerian Records. Like why listening to the mainstream rock/metal of Asking Alexandria when you can have progressive tech-death with a small salsa section midway through. They've been heaving their tech-death sound since Planetary Duality, and it never gets old.

Green Carnation – The Slave That You Are (2025)

5/5. Probably the heaviest track Green Carnation has ever made by far. It brings things closer to the progressive black metal of In the Woods and Enslaved, with the latter band's vocalist Grutle Kjellson guest appearing in the verses that contrast with the clean chorus.

Karmanjakah – Breathing (2023)

4.5/5. Headbanging? Deep breathing?! WHY NOT BOTH?!?! An amazing peaceful track to love!

Leprous – Mb. Indifferentia (2012)

4/5. I've been a bit indifferent to Leprous for the past few years, though songs like this make me question why. The perfect vocals of Einar Solberg first enter around the one-minute mark alongside instrumentation that starts reminiscent of the softer Opeth but then rises to be similar to the heavier side of Devin Townsend. Then it gets more ominous right in the middle, but after a minute of that, right around 4 and half minutes into the song, that when we reach the heavier climax that Dream Theater is often good at doing. "DO NOTHING AT ALL!!!!"

Plini – Manala (2026)

4.5/5. Plini is back, and with the heaviness in the drums and guitars, this is Plini as his most metal!

Leprous – Protest the Hero – Limb From Limb (2008)

5/5. Another favorite here! Rody Walker's awesome vocal range varies rapidly, perfectly playing together with the guitar work without overshadowing it. The lower death growls are a bit unnecessary but fit well for the experimentation in the music. The common tapping is still there, but then we find something unique, groovy keyboard soloing by Vadim Pruzhanov from DragonForce. Wicked but I wanna hear from that band's guitarists too.

Rolo Tomassi – Tempest (2025)

4.5/5. Rolo Tomassi has also just returned, and they've made a powerful song called "Tempest" that just lasts 3 minutes, unlike TOOL's over 15-minute epic.

Speaking to Stones – The Human Strain (2022)

4/5. NO, this isn't a Kamelot cover. Nonetheless, it's both beautiful and heavy.

Stormhaven – Dominion (2023)

4.5/5. HOLY B*LLS, A 24-MINUTE EPIC?!? F*** YEAH, I'M IN!!! A few other bands I've known that have each made a song that long are Dream Theater, Symphony X, and Nightwish! Let's let this long epic speak for itself...

TesseracT – Eden (2011)

4/5. Great song by this band, including Daniel Tompkins' vocals. The final third is so emotional, enough to make even the manliest metalhead cry.

Twelve Foot Ninja – Kingdom (2012)

4.5/5. An amazing song I still like from this band despite not being fully commited to listening to this band since their one-year split. "Brother, this is your dominion!"

VOLA – Applause of a Distant Crowd (2018)

5/5. Now let's have a final round of applause as we close the playlist with this band. Whether heavy or soft, incredible riffing all the same!

Here's my submission for the June Fallen playlist, Sonny, to use up those spare minutes:

Swallow the Sun - "Firelights" (from When a Shadow is Forced into the Light, 2019)

Karl has just told me that he will be taking a break from submitting feature releases until further notice, so I've removed him from the roster for now. So here's the new updated roster for June:

THE FALLEN: Vinny, Sonny

THE GATEWAY: Saxy, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: Andi, Sonny

THE HORDE: Sonny, Vinny

THE INFINITE: Andi, Saxy

THE NORTH: Vinny, Sonny

THE PIT: Sonny, Vinny

THE REVOLUTION: Andi

THE SPHERE: Andi

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Stevie T, ZP Theart - "Isugaku Never Say Goodbye" from Isugaku Never Say Goodbye (2026)

4.5/5. Once a fun little AI experiment, then an unexpected viral success, and now a full human-made epic piece of heavy/power metal, featuring the vocalist who sang the very first song to get me into all of metal.

Kamelot - "March of Mephisto (feat. Shagrath)" from The Black Halo (2005)

5/5. The album has a magnificent start with this pounding highlight showing intricate sound layers and dark aggressive Iced Earth-like mid-paced riffs, as well as complex melodic vocal construction. More detailed yet more accessible! Dimmu Borgir vocalist Shagrath does some growling as Mephisto, and Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson plays a progressive keyboard solo.

Therion - "The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah" from Vovin (1998)

4.5/5. The marching pace of this song fits quite well when put together with that Kamelot track. Angels narrate the march and dance of demons over a Middle Eastern-esque melody from both the symphonics and metal guitars.

Black Sabbath - "Johnny Blade" from Never Say Sie (1978)

4/5. RIP Ozzy Osbourne... I think I've been getting at least one song by Black Sabbath and/or Ozzy Osbourne in a playlist ever since his tragic passing. Even their supposedly least metal album in 1978's Never Say Die has its metal moments throughout songs like this one. Honestly, Johnny Blade has got to be one of the coolest names I've heard. Somehow the song would fit well in the Joker movie. Through the second third, things sound more funky, and this is before funk metal was even a thing.

Raven - "Hard Ride" from Rock Until You Drop (1981)

4.5/5. Another powerful 80s metal banger! The drummer can really wreck the kit. Everyone knows the Oasis Gallagher brothers, but not the Raven Gallagher brothers. This band shaped up heavy metal in the 80s almost as much as Black Sabbath had in the 70s, though the difference in popularity is big. An underrated sound to love!

Anvil - "666" from Metal on Metal (1982)

4/5. If you think the song is ending at the 3-minute mark, don't click off! There's massive guitar soloing before one last chorus.

Accept - "Thunder and Lightning" from I'm a Rebel (1980)

4.5/5. Accept still hits hard for the older metalheads nearly 5 decades after their formation. I also sense a small bit of glam that Motley Crue would take on next year.

LOUDNESS - "LOUDNESS" from THE BIRTHDAY EVE (1981)

4/5. Loudness pretty much started it all for Japanese heavy metal, bringing the sound of Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest to the land of the rising sun and paving the way for bands in other Asian countries, like Search in my home country Malaysia.

Diamond Head - "Helpless" from Lightning to the Nations (1980)

3.5/5. NWOBHM has been gaining some genuine speed in songs by bands like Diamond Head. I prefer "Am I Evil?" slightly more than this song though.

Judas Priest - "Exciter" from Stained Class (1978)

3/5. One of the earliest speed metal songs, even leaning into proto-thrash.

Y&T - "Forever" from Black Tiger (1982)

2.5/5. This one's OK but doesn't give me much awe. Sorry, Sonny.

More - "Warhead" from Warhead (1981)

3/5. RIP Paul Mario Day. We wish we could've gotten more from him.

Iron Maiden - "Run to the Hills" from The Number of the Beast (1982)

3.5/5. RIP Clive Burr. His drumming is quite impressive here. The Number of the Beast was the kind of album the older metalheads were listening to in their teens. That and Judas Priest's 70s/early 80s material. This was also before thrash and eventually groove metal took over and left all NWOBHM bands except Maiden run to the hills.

Riot - "Swords and Tequila" from Fire Down Under (1981)

4/5. Riot knew how to pull off a bit of humor while keeping their metal serious. You can hear Guy Speranza singing about a knight charging into battle after swigging a certain Mexican alcoholic drink, though the band's later vocalist would have greater range. The speed is what bands like Venom and early Running Wild would pick up for their own speed metal styles in the mid-80s. There's glorious fun in the dive-bombing solo by Mark Reale that might remind some of the soloing in Manowar's songs. Not only does the soloing sparkle but also the metal riff rhythm. It's just upsetting that both an amazing vocalist and a master-mindful guitarist are gone from this world. Once again, RIP...

Power Quest - "Children of the Dream" from Magic Never Dies (2005)

4.5/5. Power Quest was one of the first power metal (and metal in general) bands I've listened to besides DragonForce, back when I was 14. I distanced myself from this band and others in the power metal genre when I was moving into heavier modern genres, shortly before I turned 20. Now I'm 27, and rediscovering this beautiful uplifting song brought back some of those mystical relatable memories of mine.

Avantasia - "The Final Sacrifice" from The Metal Opera Pt. 2 (2002)

4/5. Same thing with Avantasia, and this is one of the heaviest songs by the band. Pure metal with the gravelly guest vocals by David DeFeis of Virgin Steele.

CONCERTO MOON - "THE LIGHT OF DAWN" from BACK BEYOND TIME (2024)

4.5/5. Concerto Moon seems to take the epicness and heaviness of Avantasia with their own Galneryus-infused neoclassical zest.

Dragonfly - "Rompe Tu Silencio" from Non Requiem (2011)

4/5. How did I miss this band during the height of my power metal taste 10 years ago? Probably because I wasn't used to the Spanish lyrics, but nevermind, this is beautiful.

Lord of the Lost - "Winter's Dying Heart" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 (2025)

4.5/5. Then we reach the cold melancholy of this excellent ballad with the instrumentation and vocals in excellent balance.

Fairyland - "The Storyteller" from Of Wars in Osyrhia (2003)

5/5. Fairyland is one of the most underrated symphonic power metal bands, so much so that I can't believe I didn't discover this band until this year instead of 10 years ago. No matter when I find songs like this, they're still f***ing epic!

Epica - "Quietus" from Consign to Oblivion (2005)

4.5/5. This was one of my favorite songs by Epica when I was still listening to that band a lot. I still love it today, especially the gorgeous vocals by Simone Simons.

Dark Sarah - "Hunting the Dreamer" from Behind the Black Veil (2015)

5/5. Another one of my current favorite symphonic metal songs! I like the blend of English and Finnish lyrics, the latter used in the chorus.

Seven Spires - "Almosttown" from A Fortress Called Home (2024)

4.5/5. Seven Spires has made some of the most epic symphonic metal to come out in this decade. It's absolutely underrated, and this particular track has Kamelot vibes.

Benedictum - "Vakerie Rising" from Uncreation (2006)

5/5. Let's end it all with the original Benedictum album's nearly 9-minute epic, and it shows the band in all its glory without any failure.

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!

A special playlist I've made to celebrate the 4-year anniversary of when I started making the monthly Sphere Spotify playlists: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7nJZB6qogLbzI1NOUpXTsQ

May 2026

1. Code Orange - "(deeperthanbefore)" from Underneath (2020)

2. Oddko - "Disobey" from Disobey (2019)

3. Rammstein - "Mein Teil" from Reise, Reise (2004)

4. Celldweller - "My Disintegration (Joe Ford Remix)" from Satellites (Remixed) (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. Fear Factory - "Scapegoat" from Soul of a New Machine (1992) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Waltari - "Progression" from Space Avenue (1997) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. Iperyt - "Antihuman Hate Generator" from No State of Grace (2011)

8. Circus of Dead Squirrels - "8-Bit Piece of Shit" from Indoor Recess (2004)

9. Crossbreed - "Seasons" from Synthetic Division (2001)

10. Dagoba - "The Things Within" from What Hell is About (2006)

11. Rorschach Test - "New Blood Order" from The Eleventh (1994)

12. Neurotech - "The Race to Recovery" from The Decipher Volumes (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Pain - "Just Think Again" from Psalms of Extinction (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Strapping Young Lad - "Far Beyond Metal" from The New Black (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Fear of Domination - "Punish Y.S." from Call of Schizophrenia (2009)

16. Subway to Sally - "Herz in der Kinde" from Post Mortem (2024)

17. Autarkh - "Strife" from Emergent (2023)

18. Persher - "Medieval Soup From the Milkbar" from Sleep Well (2024)

19. Turmion Katilot - "Revi Minut Auki" from Global Warning (2020)

20. Treponem Pal - "Evil is Us - Lofofora Remix" from Evil Music for Evil People (2013)

21. Combichrist - "RISE" from RISE (2025)

22. SUB DUB MICROMACHINE - "Road to Nowhere" from Auferstanden! (2008)

23. Static-X - "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" from Beneath...Between...Beyond (2004)

24. Vibrion - "Revenge" from Instinct (2002)

25. Unheilig - "Ausblick (Outro)" from LIEBE GLAUBE MONSTER (2026)

26. Mechina - "Blessings Upon the Field Where Blades Will Flood" from Blessings Upon the Field Where Blades Will Flood (2023)

May 2026

1. Ithilien - "Blindfolded" from Shaping the Soul (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Phinehas - "Blood on My Knuckles" from The Last Word is Yours to Speak (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. We Butter the Bread with Butter - "N!CE" from Das Album (2021)

4. Hope for the Dying - "Iniquitous" from Aletheia (2013) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

5. August Burns Red - "The Nameless" from The Nameless (2026)

6. Boundaries - "Death Will Follow Me" from Death Will Follow Me (2026)

7. Ankor, SiM - "DANZO · Lying Ghost" from DANZO · Lying Ghost (2026)

8. Mirrorcell, VCTMS - "Ichi" from Long Nights in Lovescape (2026)

9. Vision of Disorder - "The Craving" from Razed to the Ground (2015)

10. As I Lay Dying - "The Voices That Betray Me" from Beneath the Encasing of Ashes (2001) (based on A Long March: The First Recordings (2006))

11. ERRA - "Hybrid Earth" from Augment (2013)

12. Rise of the Northstar - "Back 2 Basics" from Back 2 Basics (2025)

13. Like Moths to Flames - "Burn in Water, Drown in Flame" from No Eternity in Gold (2020)

14. Excessive Force - "Misfortune" from In Your Blood (1995) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. The Devil Wears Prada - "Swords, Dragons & Diet Coke" from Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. The Agonist - "Immaculate Deception" from Days Before the World Wept (2021) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. AVRALIZE - "Liminal" from Liminal (2025)

18. Bleed from Within - "Escape Yourself" from Uprising (2013)

19. Worm Shepherd - "Wilted Moon" from Ritual Hymns (2022)

20. A Wake in Providence - "Black Mass (feat. Dickie Allen)" from Insidious: Phase II (2017)

21. The Last Ten Seconds of Life - "Sacrifice (the Prince)" from Soulless Hymns (2015)

22. Within Destruction - "Death Awaits Us All" from Deathwish (2018)

23. Frontierer - "Mt. Swath" from Orange Mathematics (2015)

24. Psyopus - "Ms. Sunflower" from Odd Senses (2009)

25. Invent Animate, Silent Planet - "Armageddon Eyes" from Bloom in Heaven (2025)

26. Northlane, In Hearts Wake - "Equinox" from Equinox (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

27. Darkest Hour - "Accessible Losses" from Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (2003)

28. Bullet for My Valentine - "The End" from The Poison (2005)

May 2026

1. Stevie T, ZP Theart - "Isugaku Never Say Goodbye" from Isugaku Never Say Goodbye (2026) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Kamelot - "March of Mephisto (feat. Shagrath)" from The Black Halo (2005)

3. Therion - "The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah" from Vovin (1998)

4. Black Sabbath - "Johnny Blade" from Never Say Sie (1978)

5. Raven - "Hard Ride" from Rock Until You Drop (1981)

6. Anvil - "666" from Metal on Metal (1982)

7. Accept - "Thunder and Lightning" from I'm a Rebel (1980)

8. LOUDNESS - "LOUDNESS" from THE BIRTHDAY EVE (1981)

9. Diamond Head - "Helpless" from Lightning to the Nations (1980)

10. Judas Priest - "Exciter" from Stained Class (1978)

11. Y&T - "Forever" from Black Tiger (1982) [Suggested by Sonny]

12. More - "Warhead" from Warhead (1981)

13. Iron Maiden - "Run to the Hills" from The Number of the Beast (1982)

14. Riot - "Swords and Tequila" from Fire Down Under (1981)

15. Power Quest - "Children of the Dream" from Magic Never Dies (2005)

16. Avantasia - "The Final Sacrifice" from The Metal Opera Pt. 2 (2002)

17. CONCERTO MOON - "THE LIGHT OF DAWN" from BACK BEYOND TIME (2024)

18. Dragonfly - "Rompe Tu Silencio" from Non Requiem (2011)

19. Lord of the Lost - "Winter's Dying Heart" from OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 (2025)

20. Fairyland - "The Storyteller" from Of Wars in Osyrhia (2003) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

21. Epica - "Quietus" from Consign to Oblivion (2005)

22. Dark Sarah - "Hunting the Dreamer" from Behind the Black Veil (2015) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

23. Seven Spires - "Almosttown" from A Fortress Called Home (2024) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

24. Benedictum - "Vakerie Rising" from Uncreation (2006) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

Here's my review summary:

For those of you not familiar with Circle of Dust, their best album Brainchild wasn't originally made under that moniker. In 1992, founder Klayton worked with Doug Mann on a different project Brainchild, releasing their sole album Mindwarp. The next year, R.E.X. wanted another album by Circle of Dust, but because most of the money was already used for the Brainchild project, Klayton decided to have Mindwarp re-released in 1994 as that second Circle of Dust release, with Brainchild becoming the album title. The original album Mindwarp is an excellent album that I love almost as much as the Circle of Dust one! The only differences are in 3 tracks. Two of them are better here, and the other one is not bad but could've been improved. As for the rest, they all sound as strong as in the Circle of Dust album. Klayton has done an amazing job combining the industrial metal and samples of Ministry with occasional Slayer-like thrash. Well I say it probably would've made more sense if Klayton re-recorded the entire album instead of just 3 tracks, because then the two albums would've sounded more like separate entities rather than one album credited as two artists. But since I absolutely love the Circle of Dust album, I can't really complain about this one. Though if "Prayers of a Dead Man" was made as metal as the Circle of Dust version, the Mindwarp album would've been perfect as well. Still it's worth checking out for all Klayton fans!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Telltale Crime", "Course of Ruin", "Descent", "Deviate", "Aggressor (Regressive Mix)"

For fans of: Circle of Dust, Godflesh, Ministry

Here's my review summary:

It has been 10 years since this collaboration EP has been released, and I've only listened to it for less than half that amount of time. Surprisingly I haven't reviewed it like I did with all the other Northlane albums, but there's no better time than now. Two Australian metalcore bands Northlane and In Hearts Wake banded together for a top-secret project that wasn't revealed until the day of its release. Those two bands would then tour together to promote this masterpiece! So if you're thinking they were just going to combine the djenty atmosphere of Northlane with the hardcore aggression of In Hearts Wake, that's somewhat true. Both sides were cranked up, causing a new different sound for those bands. This is more than just a metalcore release, it's a journey where you can transcend through the astral realms while looking down at the world's political and environmental issues. I would consider the EP an 11-minute epic with 3 tracks that's basically two songs connected with an interlude, and they're fantastic! The vocalists from both bands all shine well too. The growling vocal style shows the intense power of Jake Taylor while the latter, sung by then-bassist Kyle Erich, enhances the chorus. His clean vocals sound so commanding, which is what I like and what stablized In Hearts Wake's sound before his recent departure from the band. Then you can hear the vocal diversity of Northlane vocalist Marcus Bridge hit you in the face. With those vocalists and the rest of the crew, not often can you have 10 people work together and make a beautiful odyssey. It must've been quite a challenge, but in the end, we get to experience a journey made in a journey. Teamwork makes the dream work, baby!

5/5

Recommended tracks: All of them but especially "Hologram" and "Refuge"

For fans of: Architects, Invent Animate, Silent Planet

Here's my review summary:

I'm not too surprised that I've never heard of Mirrorcell until sometime this week. They released their debut album Long Nights in Lovescape (sounds like if someone spent all night using an AI dating app) two months ago. It's an album that can go back and forth from ethereal to intense, but it ends up inconsistent with only a few exciting tracks. The album's sound is basically alt-metalcore with some shoegaze. I find the more shoegaze side of them a little too much, often interfering with the times when the band is meant to go heavy. As a result, the offering is plagued with generic tracks. And in the few that are actually fun to listen to, it's because of the experimentation they add to the sound. It's really only then that I realize the band's true potential, specifically track 5. From then on, aside from a couple more poor tracks, the tracks are great highlights with intense heaviness along with well-executed electronics and breakdowns. They have really gotten me hooked with fun catchy melody. All in all, I would consider Long Nights in Lovescape a decent album, just not really a great one. The alternation between generic and anthemic tracks is just underwhelming for me. Still they're a new band with some potential, so I'll give them the benefit of a doubt. They just need to improve on their sound and seal it as something unique. I have nothing against shoegazey alt-metalcore, yet the generic sh*t is what made the sound stop being one of my favorite metal styles in the first place. There's still some good in the fusion, they just need to really let it out. Otherwise, we would have another decent yet generic release like this. We'll see what the future holds....

3/5

Recommended tracks: "Hurt Me", "Ichi", "U(phoria)", "Prey"

For fans of: Cane Hill, Issues, Volumes

Here's my submission for the June Gateway playlist:

Mirrorcell - "Hurt Me" (from Long Nights in Lovescape, 2026)

Update for June:

THE FALLEN: Vinny, Sonny

THE GATEWAY: Saxy, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: Karl, Andi, Sonny

THE HORDE: Sonny, Karl, Vinny

THE INFINITE: Andi, Saxy

THE NORTH: Vinny, Sonny, Karl

THE PIT: Sonny, Vinny

THE REVOLUTION: Andi

THE SPHERE: Andi

We don't generally delete releases like that, although we probably should.

That's kinda my feeling about bands that were added to the site as metal but then became deemed non-metal, like Sky Eats Airplane. That was at the time when nintendocore was thought to be a metal genre, until we made the consensus that it is not. Although there is the need for that band to be gone from the site, I know you don't generally delete such releases, and part of me feels it should at least stay for some historical value.