Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

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

16volt - "Perfectly Fake" (5:10) from Skin (1994)

Code Orange - "A Drone Opting Out of the Hive" (3:21) from The Above (2023)

Fear Factory - "Controlled Demolition" (4:25) from Mechanize (2010)

In This Moment - "Army of Me" (3:10) from Godmode (2023)

Mushroomhead - "Episode 29 (Hardcore Mix)" (4:26) from Remix (1997)

Oomph! - "Ich bin Du" (6:13) from Oomph! (1992) (I personally think that track is metal enough to be in a Sphere playlist, based off of the compilation 1991-1996 The Early Works (1998))

Total length: 26:45

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

Architects - "Naysayer" (3:26) from Lost Forever // Lost Together (2014)

Bullet for My Valentine - "Waking the Demon" (4:07) from Scream Aim Fire (2008)

Chelsea Grin - "See You Soon" (3:31) from Eternal Nightmare (2018)

Emmure - "You Got a Henna Tattoo That Said Forever" (3:24) from Goodbye to the Gallows (2007)

From Autumn to Ashes - "Lilacs & Lolita" (2:42) from The Fiction We Live (2003)

Upon a Burning Body - "Thunderheart" (3:15) from Fury (2022)

Winds of Plague - "Anthems of Apocalypse" (5:46) from Decimate the Weak (2008)

Total length: 26:11

Here are my submissions for the December Infinite playlist:

Anacrusis - "Sound the Alarm" (5:36) from Screams and Whispers (1993)

Opeth - "Hex Omega" (7:00) from Watershed (2008)

Periphery - "Dying Star" (5:17) from Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre (2023)

Star One - "Human See, Human Do" (5:14) from Victims of the Modern Age (2010)

Tool - "The Pot" (6:21) from 10,000 Days (2006)

Total length: 29:28

Here are my submissions for the December Gateway playlist:

Alien Weaponry - "Whispers" (4:17) from Tu (2018)

Beartooth - "The Better Me" (3:15) from The Surface (2023)

Code Orange - "Take Shape" (3:24) from The Above (2023)

Five Finger Death Punch - "Burn MF" (3:37) from The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1 (2013)

From Ashes to New - "My Fight" (3:21) from From Ashes to New (2013)

Godsmack - "I Stand Alone" (4:06) from Faceless (2003)

Lacuna Coil - "Survive" (3:34) from Shallow Life (2009)

Slipknot - "Custer" (4:14) from .5: The Gray Chapter (2014)

Total length: 29:48

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Strapping Young Lad - "Imperial" from Alien (2005)

4.5/5. Kicking off this playlist with a bang is this fantastic crushing intro. The song features humans within this machine; drummer Gene Hoglan, guitarist Jed Simon, bassist Byron Stroud, and Devin Townsend who also plays guitars while screaming with a bit of clean vocals. Great start!

PAIN - "Revolution" from Revolution (2023)

5/5. I only became interested in PAIN this year, and there's never a boring song. This is a beautiful inspiring masterpiece of a song. Peter Tagtgren is such a creative dude.

In This Moment - "Godmode" from Godmode (2023)

5/5. Maria Brink is a beautiful talented leader of her amazing band. Godmode already hints at a return to their heavier feel.

Rammstein - "Zeit" from Zeit (2022)

4.5/5. Mourning this virus-ridden cruelty, this ballad has soft piano and vocals, sounding restrained while still beautiful and remarkable.

Danzig - "Sacrifice" from Danzig 5: Blackacidevil (1996)

4/5. This one starts with a Nine Inch Nails-like intro before launching into a perfect industrial metal single that should've ended up in the 1997 Spawn film soundtrack.

Fall of Because - "Life is Easy" from Life is Easy (1999)

4.5/5. This song was re-recorded for Godflesh's Streetcleaner, with an approach easily compared to Swans before they moved out of their original industrial-noise sound at that time. Thanks to the dual guitar attack, bands like Pitchshifter would be able to emphasize their discordant lead work and help develop industrial metal.

Misery Loves Co. - "My Mind Still Speaks" from Misery Loves Co. (1995)

4/5. At the start of this track, you already know what a great industrial metal journey this is gonna be. The abrasive metal guitars play through the vocal blend of the growls of death metal and the singing of alternative metal.

White Zombie - "Electric Head, Part 1 (The Agony)" from Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head (1995)

4.5/5. This one starts the album with awesome rock/metal riffing. There's intense speed, though not in faster metal levels, giving the track mighty power. This album and Fear Factory are great examples of industrial metal getting you higher than stoner metal listeners, without ever having to use drugs.

Genitorturers - "Sin City" from Sin City (1998)

4/5. This aggressive track offers some stylistic tricks up their sleeve.

16volt - "Motorskill" from Wisdom (1993)

4.5/5. This is an amazing industrial metal track like none other. The coldness of the riffing and beats march on with no fear. Anyone who thought this kind of mix shouldn't exist would be wrong!

OLD - "Marzuraan" from Lo Flux Tube (1991)

5/5. One of my favorite songs from this band with innovative catchy noise, surpassing some of Godflesh's greatness.

Fear Factory - "Soul Hacker" from Genexus (2015)

4.5/5. Another groove-powered anthem worth it for the mosh pit.

HEALTH - "CHILDREN OF SORROW" from CHILDREN OF SORROW (2023)

4/5. A powerful jam of dark synthwave metal.

Static-X - "Z0mbie" from Z0mbie (2023)

4.5/5. Xero's smashing vocals may have a bit of a Rob Zombie vibe, but they help keep Wayne's legacy alive. RIP Wayne Static

Celldweller - "ShutEmDown" from Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head Vol. 02 (2012)

5/5. Awesome metalstep that should fit well for a boss battle.

Sybreed - "The Line of Least Resistance" from God is an Automation (2012)

4.5/5. Holy f***, this cyber metal sound is just too good not to listen!

Illidiance - "Breaking the Limit" from Damage Theory (2010)

4/5. F***ing great piece of modern metal history! Those drums shall unleash a dark vortex as part of the bad-a** music.

Minority Sound - "Hate Circulation" from Drowner's Dance (2015)

4/5. More of this cyber metal potential to follow up from the Sybreed and Illidiance tracks.

T3CHN0PH0B1A - "Abduction Starfleet" from Grave New World (2008)

4.5/5. Sounds like this band has more of a harsher electronic sound, a bit like Psyclon Nine with Cradle of Filth vocals. The vocalist performs ungodly shrieks to unleash the industrial beast. I guess this can be spacey blackened electro-industrial metal. This is a different example of cyber metal from, say, Herrschaft, and it works well. You can also think of this as Blood Stain Child gone Immortal/Mayhem for a Kovenant-like blend. Still a bit of the energy from the keys and drums is missing, needing a bit of a kick.

Aborym - "Mental Striken Terror Action" from With No Human Intervention (2003)

5/5. Now there's the industrial black metal energy kick that I needed. Bravo!

ASP - "Furst der Finsternis" from Horrors - A Collection of Gothic Novellas (2023)

4.5/5. I was wondering when some more of the Neue Deutsche Härte would show up. This one's quite excellent though.

Hanzel Und Gretyl - "Aufweiderschen" from Uber Alles (2003)

4/5. This one fits well for when you're moving out of your childhood home and starting an independent path. I haven't had that experience yet, but I'll keep this song in mind for when I do. Beautiful whispers in a city in ruins before one final divebomb destroys the remains.

KMFDM - "WWIII" from WWIII (2003)

4.5/5. A great song to love, especially in the banjo intro before turning up the heavy volume. Seeing how this decade was suffering from COVID, followed by a couple wars in different regions, it may seem like WWIII may happen in the future. Stay peaceful, everyone! I can barely dig any of KMFDM's songs, but this one I can.

Tyrant of Death - "Nuclear Nanosecond" from Nuclear Nanosecond (2013)

4/5. The razor-sharp drumming blows my mind as much of the rest of the track that would fit well in a sci-fi movie/video game soundtrack set 100 years from now. This is pretty much instrumental atmospheric industrial deathgrind/progressive metalcore that sounds like if Celldweller and Mick Gordon made a collaboration for the Devil May Cry or Blade Runner soundtrack. The last minute of the track is certainly worth headbanging to. This can almost surpass the extreme factor of Strapping Young Lad's City!

Die Krupps - "Road Rage Warrior" from V - Metal Machine Music (2015)

3.5/5. Road Rage! He's a Road Rage Warrior!

Andrew Hulshult - "Keepers of the Gate" from Dusk (Original Game Soundtrack) (2018)

4/5. Some kick-A DOOM-like gaming metal with horror-filled atmosphere. Near the 3-minute mark, we switch to an eerily beautiful section with shotgun rhythm.

Godflesh - "The Infinite End" from Post Self (2017)

4.5/5. This track lets everything out from the band before ending with eerie synths, though it sounds like there should be more to come from the band. But at least there are a couple tracks to give this playlist a more complete ending.

Acumen Nation - "Bleed for You" from More Human Heart (1997)

4/5. This one makes me think of Red Harvest blended with the groove-ish instrumentation of Vision of Disorder at that time.

2wo - "Bed of Rust" from Voyeurs (1998)

3.5/5. Closing the playlist is the original album's epic-sounding climax. Seriously, you should stick around and be rewarded, despite a bit of trouble!

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? Despite some bumpiness in towards the end. Anyway, 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 Daniel for accepting this and your help with your submission, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

XavlegbmaofffassssitimiwoamndutroabcwapwaeiippohfffX - "Bone Saw" from Gore E.P. (2016)

4.5/5. Behold, "Bone Saw". The opening track of my first Revolution playlist after my 3-month break. Interesting track submission, Daniel! From around the 45-second mark comes a funky groove for a brutal deathcore song that can work well for a zombie slasher film. And holy sh*t, what a f***ing groovy solo for a grind-ish deathcore track! Seems like they invented a new subgenre that they call "groove to the flesh grind". Stay classy, grinding gentlemen, those are some disgustingly silly lyrics that can still be enjoyed. Also even though I don't usually put the deathcore section into the beginning of a playlist, I thought it would work well as a heavy brutal comeback for me in working on the playlists, including that Xavleg submission. If you can't handle that much deathly chaos, maybe skip to track 6 or 7 and start there.

Lorna Shore - "Welcome Back, O' Sleeping Dreamer" from Pain Remains (2022)

5/5. I was originally planning on this epic track being the one to start the playlist before that Xavleg submission came in. It begins with an ominous intro, where symphonic orchestra rises as if you were expecting Two Steps From Hell. Then at the top, the band strikes in a devastating touchdown, as the guitarists conjuring a searing riff storm raining down on you. A brutal breakdown chops you down to size, then sharp riffing once again decimates you while fitting well with the brilliant cinematics.

Mental Cruelty - "Obsessis a Daemonio" from Zwielicht (2023)

4.5/5. Some might think of this total blaster as Dimmu Borgir on steroids. At over the 3 and a half minute mark, Lukas attempts some clean power metal-like singing like some of the male guest vocalists of Avantasia.

Gravemind - "Deadspace" from The Deathgate (2017)

4/5. A killer brief transition from one part of the deathcore section to another.

The Browning - "Poison" from Poison (2023)

4.5/5. As I listen to this raging new single by The Browning at night (as of this comment), I feel like f***ing kicking a hole in the wall next to me during the brutal breakdown. Fortunately, I've never done that.

Dagames - "Die Die Die" from Die Die Die (2016)

4/5. See, this is the kind of music that I've been interested throughout my early 20s, solid deathly melodic metalcore. This time, another song from the masters of making metalcore tunes based on video games "Can you feel the edge?! (DIE DIE DIE!!!)"

Any Given Day - "Unbreakable" from Unbreakable (2023)

4.5/5. One h*ll of a headbanging anthem for the live crowd! With heavy beauty and powerful lyrics, lots more attention is what this band really needs.

Parkway Drive - "Vice Grip" from Ire (2015)

5/5. This is a much stronger metalcore song than most of its original album, and it's an excellent choice for the album's lead single; a catchy anthem about perseverance rebelling against opposition.

Polaris - "Nightmare" from Fatalism (2023)

5/5. The ultimate Polaris anthem! An easy metalcore banger with all of their signature aspects; screamed verses, melodic choruses, heavy riffs, and powerful vocals, all leading up to the mighty end. This is full-on rage you just gotta experience!

Amaranthe - "Viral" from Manifest (2020)

3.5/5. This one is a little off because of the gigantic hooks being cheesy, but they're swept away by the triple-vocal attack and crushing metal.

Kingdom of Giants - "Burner" from Passenger (2020)

4/5. Although I've only given this track 4 stars, its original album should've had more fame, especially when they had Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox in a different song.

Sikth - "In This Light" from Death of a Dead Day (2006)

4.5/5. Beautiful song filled with emotional lyrics and a f***ing irresistible solo. This can easily work well as part of the Fallout soundtrack. Somehow I think of this song as The Contortionist gone Sum 41.

Trivium - "Sickness Unto You" from What the Dead Men Say (2020)

5/5. This highlight has a darker mood and breaks through technical limits with an extreme storm of riffs and drums possessing your body. Who needs MTV?! You got this song that's far more fun than any of those lame pop music videos!

All That Remains - "Dead Wrong" from For We Are Many (2010)

4.5/5. This one makes another backward turn through history with some melodeath: Fast pummeling drumming, sawing guitar leads, deep resonant bass, and evil sounding death growls. Dissonant yet pleasing! At least there's some clean signing to fit well with the howling and growling.

Left to Suffer - "Consistent Suffering" from Feral (2023)

4/5. Feral deathly metalcore right here! At over the one and a half minute mark is an unreal blend of sped up trap with the usual growled vocals. It's so crazy how much eerie brutality and clean melody can be found put together. H*ll, those lyrics may seem sad, but the vocals make them sound mad.

Demon Hunter - "The End" from Outlive (2017)

3.5/5. While this track sounds metal in the verse and breakdown, the rest of that song just sounds like straightforward rock. Still a nice way to break the flow a little bit.

Every Time I Die - "Revival Mode" from Ex Lives (2012)

4/5. "There's only room on this rescue boat for butchers and bakers and men with hope! And will machine gunners please step forth?!" Holy sh*t, those lyrics towards the end are timeless, right before the last of the chorus that's also good, "Thanks Lord but I don't need anymore poor advice, poor advice." The solo by John Christ of Danzig during the aforementioned bridge is super cool!

Of Mice & Men - "Purified" from The Flood (2011)

4.5/5. Scr*w the haters who attack this album. The Flood is the best album by the band, and this is one of many great songs there.

Invent Animate - "Naturehold" from Everchanger (2014)

5/5. Another golden highlight! ERRA clean vocalist Jesse Cash adds pure beauty to this Invent Animate track.

Termina - "Blood Echo" from Dysphoria (2021)

4.5/5. My favorite part of this track is the clean singing at the one and a half minute mark. And the rest of the song is so insane!

Rising Insane - "Demons" from Demons (2023)

4/5. And speaking of insane, it's crazy how this band can add a lot of texture to the modern metalcore template for something so beautiful and brutal. Great lyrics too! There's so much in this killer banger you just can't miss. Raising your hammer of fire high against those demons! It's just so great. The screams and higher cleans are some good sh*t there with a similar vibe to Architects vocalist Sam Carter. There's also the wildness of the newer albums by Northlane. A bit generic and overdone in the execution of the vocal melodies, but standing high all the same.

Annisokay - "Monstercrazy" from The Lucid Dream (Er) (2012)

3.5/5. Pretty good, though not really the best I've heard from this band. However, the quality increases throughout the last minute.

Hollow Front - "Letting Go" from Letting Go (2023)

4/5. A more well-made modern metalcore track. Moving on...

Heart of a Coward - "Around a Girl (in 80 Days)" from Hope and Hindrance (2012)

4.5/5. Better riffing and raw vocals, all in heavy instrumentation, plus some clean vocal emotion. F***ing sh*t-loads of destruction!

Johnny Booth - "Follower" from Firsthand Accounts (2019)

4/5. Solid blend of beauty and chaotic energy right here! This might reminds some of the band Beloved. And G****MN, the final third of this song is so awesomely brutal, ending with perhaps one of the most destructive breakdowns I've heard in metalcore.

Knut - "Shine" from Leftovers (1997)

4.5/5. Another song to love from this band. RIP Didier Séverin

The Dillinger Escape Plan - "The Running Board" from Calculating Infinity (1999)

5/5. This mathcore standout probably works better in the Under the Running Board EP. After a chaotic minute, the song switches to a western noir theme that escalates into some more jazz fusion. Still there's no denying that the song is a hardcore anthem for metalheads.

Converge - "Drop Out" from You Fail Me (2004)

5/5. Continuing the hardcore metal insanity, guitarist Kurt Ballou shows his versatile talent with an incredible ending riff.

Frontierer - "Tumoric" from Unoxidized (2018)

4.5/5. A f***ing mathcore gamechanger of intense destruction! This shall make up for the loss of The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza. And speaking of that band...

The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - "Sammy Jankis" from Danza 3: The Series of Unfortunate Events (2010)

4.5/5. Holy h*ll, this is amazing furious djenty mathcore sh*t with Joshua Travis on guitars. Nothing but the sweet sound of f***ing crushing chaos! Especially in the final minute with the most of the djent. Remember Sammy Jankis!

Betraying the Martyrs - "THE VEIL" from GODSPEED (2023)

5/5. There's no better way to end this playlist than with a farewell song from this incredible symphonic metalcore band. It was shocking hearing about the breakup of this band that I've listened to 5 years, but I hope the members go on with their future projects. This is a total masterpiece of a banger! Thank you for everything, BTM....

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? Despite some bumpiness in a couple places. Anyway, 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 Daniel for accepting this and your help with your submission, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Between the Buried and Me – Ants of the Sky (Live) (2008)

5/5. This 13-minute epic to start off this playlist that I still love from this band has wonderful aspects of blues groove and organ, with some hard rock/thrash added in, as the soloing ranges from jazz to Queen-esque to country. Soon it leads to an epic slow bridge that then quiets down for a bit of clean soloing. And then another country-like moment, this time with banjo-like guitars and a background bar fight (WHAT?!), before ending with an uplifting neoclassical outro similar to Pachelbel's Canon.

Opeth – Forest of October (1995)

5/5. Another 13-minute epic that I still love to bits, having melodies of beauty and sorrow from one of the band's most memorable earlier compositions. The song is quite d*mn long, but what makes those long epics superb is, there are some different emotions in different sections, all ranging from aggressive brutality to acoustic melancholy. One of my favorite Opeth songs, though still behind "The Drapery Falls"!

Disillusion – Back to Times of Splendor (2004)

4.5/5. I haven't heard anything from Disillusion in over a year when my prog-metal interest was at fault, but now that I'm reviving it slowly, this is yet another 13+ minute epic to strike my heart. It's crazy how emotional and powerful this composition, so much so that it should've been more popular. I'm glad I discovered this amazing sh*t 3 years ago via a recommendation, and I enjoy the lyrics here like "morning sun beyond the clouds". Think of this wonderful deathly progressive metal piece like Ne Obliviscaris collaborating with Amon Amarth. I mean, Ne Obliviscaris didn't fully start yet back in 2004, but still. This kind of music with tons of melody deserves more attention. At least the band is still around and producing music, even after a 13-year break at the same time as that of Tool. Near the 5 and a half minute mark is an Opeth like-section. The softer section two minutes later also rules. Things get more emotional at the 11-minute point. And two minutes later is the best ending. All in true deathly progressive metal!

Edge of Sanity – Crimson Pt. 3 (1996)

4/5. This track is actually part of a 40-minute progressive melodeath album/epic (almost as long as the first 3 epics of this playlist altogether!), but the digital edition of the album uses the slightly shortened version from the When All is Said compilation and splits it up to different parts, not caring about the movements within the lyrics. I think this is the ending of the "With Broken Wings" segment followed by most of the "War" segment (Yes, I still remember the names of the segments that I've made up). I would probably have much a better revisiting experience with this album/epic in its full form.

Haken – Elephants Never Forget (2023)

3.5/5. This epic was already in last April's playlist, but I don't mind sharing my thoughts on it again. The starting move into a more prog-rock-ish style is a bit forgettable, but still worth enjoying. After a one-minute intro, the band's Gentle Giant influence kicks in, especially in Ross Jennings' vocals. That goes on for a minute until Haken's own classic sound enters, further taken another minute later into their typical chorus. Yet another minute later, it ends sounding closer to a bit of the industrial rock of Nine Inch Nails. At the 7-minute mark is an insane bridge to make up for the earlier drag. This is then followed a minute after by the progressive metal glory that I wish there could be more of without sounding too melodic.

Caligula’s Horse – Autumn (2020)

4/5. A melodic half-acoustic half-electric ballad, slightly better than that Haken track.

Mastodon – Gobblers of Dregs (2021)

4.5/5. "All that I needed from you was your warm embrace. Turns out, that was mine to give." Tear-shedding emotional beauty!

Caligula’s Horse – Marigold (2023)

4/5. Whoa, hold the phone... Two Caligula's Horse songs here?!? Ain't that a break from the one song per band playlist rule! I suppose I can try making an exception in one of my own playlists later. Anyway, this has lots of Opeth vibes mixed with the clean vocals of Leprous.

Monosphere – Method Acting (2023)

4.5/5. Some killer progressive metalcore here! Anyway...

Ne Obliviscaris – Painters of the Tempest – Part II (Triptych Lux) (2014)

5/5. The chaos is unleashed with part 2 of "Painters of the Tempest". Even though the entire suite is 23 minutes long, this part would still be Ne Obliviscaris' longest song at 16 and a half minutes, and the longest epic of this playlist! This is perhaps my favorite Ne Obliviscaris song even though it's NOT in Portal of I. There are so many brilliant ideas! This part is actually is split into 3 smaller movements. The first movement, "Creator" has a couple transitions between fast storms and soft melodies. Then the second movement "Cynosure" is more acoustic/violin oriented, unlike the overpowering guitars in the other two movements. The avant-garde jazz themes are more apparent with only clean vocals and mid-tempo melodic grooves, until it builds back up to a crescendo of metal and growls. The last movement "Curator" is back to some of the most intense powerful chaos of the album until a nice ethereal ending.

Rivers of Nihil – Hellbirds (2023)

4.5/5. Let's end this playlist with a new single by Rivers of Nihil, their second one with bassist Adam Biggs on lead vocals. The vocals are incredible in both Adam Biggs' death growls and guitarist Andy Thomas' melodic singing. The drumming, soloing, and breakdown are all so intense! And this band has been up in prog/tech-death game since their formation in 2009.

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Pyrogenesis – Survival of the Fittest (2020)

4/5. Killer start to this playlist! Not the best, but I'll survive.

36 Crazyfists – Better to Burn (2017)

4.5/5. Now this is a better song to love! Still can't believe this band ended up calling it quits.

Sleep Token – The Summoning (2023)

5/5. Then I get to hear this awesome track with heavier breakdowns leading to a soulful bass/vocals ending. The song is highly popular on Spotify, and I can understand why.

Alien Weaponry – Kai Tangata (2018)

5/5. This highlight continues the heavy aggression while having another shining melodic chorus. I love it!

Alter Bridge – Fortress (2013)

5/5. This 7 and a half minute epic is the perfect ending to the hour-long tale of its original album. The textures and time changes are produced perfectly in experimental glory.

Any Given Day – Wind of Change (2022)

4.5/5. As time goes by, a f***ing boring rock ballad ends up getting the amazing metal cover treatment. Any Given Day's cover is a real tear-jerker, and it's a pleasant break from the band's Soilwork-infused melodic metalcore.

Celldweller – Switchback (2003)

5/5. A classic released 20 years ago and still sounds fresh! The more material I find from Celldweller, the less likely I'm able to SWITCHBACK.

In This Moment – In The Air Tonight (2017)

4.5/5. Another impressive remake of an earlier hit. This is the probably best cover I've heard of this Phil Collins single. Cinematic beauty and drama ends up taken to higher levels. Hearing this cover again on the day after Halloween (as of commenting) is a f***ing phenomenal experience. The whole "cover sounding better than the original thing" strikes again! My only complaint is how muffled the drumming sounds, even during the beat-drop leading to the final chorus. Nonetheless, Maria Brink and co. nailed it!

Spiritibox – Cellar Door (2023)

4/5. Pretty sick! Enough said.

Evanescence – Far From Heaven (2021)

3.5/5. The beginning is like Within Temptation gone Tears for Fears, with the piano and soft operatic singing. But the rest of the ballad isn't that strong. I'll head out now....

Update on the feature release roster for December:

THE FALLEN: BEN, Daniel, Morpheus

THE GATEWAY: SAXY, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: SHEZMA, Morpheus, Rexorcist, Xephyr

THE HORDE: BEN, Daniel

THE INFINITE: REXORCIST, Saxy, Shezma, Andi, Xephyr

THE NORTH: DANIEL, Shezma, Xephyr, Ben

THE PIT: REXORCIST, Daniel, Ben, Morpheus

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI, Daniel

THE SPHERE: DANIEL, Andi

November 2023

1. Strapping Young Lad - "Imperial" from Alien (2005)

2. PAIN - "Revolution" from Revolution (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. In This Moment - "Godmode" from Godmode (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Rammstein - "Zeit" from Zeit (2022)

5. Danzig - "Sacrifice" from Danzig 5: Blackacidevil (1996)

6. Fall of Because - "Life is Easy" from Life is Easy (1999)

7. Misery Loves Co. - "My Mind Still Speaks" from Misery Loves Co. (1995)

8. White Zombie - "Electric Head, Part 1 (The Agony)" from Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head (1995)

9. Genitorturers - "Sin City" from Sin City (1998)

10. 16volt - "Motorskill" from Wisdom (1993) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. OLD - "Marzuraan" from Lo Flux Tube (1991) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

12. Fear Factory - "Soul Hacker" from Genexus (2015) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. HEALTH - "CHILDREN OF SORROW" from CHILDREN OF SORROW (2023)

14. Static-X - "Z0mbie" from Z0mbie (2023)

15. Celldweller - "ShutEmDown" from Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head Vol. 02 (2012)

16. Sybreed - "The Line of Least Resistance" from God is an Automation (2012)

17. Illidiance - "Breaking the Limit" from Damage Theory (2010)

18. Minority Sound - "Hate Circulation" from Drowner's Dance (2015)

19. T3CHN0PH0B1A - "Abduction Starfleet" from Grave New World (2008)

20. Aborym - "Mental Striken Terror Action" from With No Human Intervention (2003)

21. ASP - "Furst der Finsternis" from Horrors - A Collection of Gothic Novellas (2023)

22. Hanzel Und Gretyl - "Aufweiderschen" from Uber Alles (2003)

23. KMFDM - "WWIII" from WWIII (2003)

24. Tyrant of Death - "Nuclear Nanosecond" from Nuclear Nanosecond (2013)

25. Die Krupps - "Road Rage Warrior" from V - Metal Machine Music (2015)

26. Andrew Hulshult - "Keepers of the Gate" from Dusk (Original Game Soundtrack) (2018)

27. Godflesh - "The Infinite End" from Post Self (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

28. Acumen Nation - "Bleed for You" from More Human Heart (1997)

29. 2wo - "Bed of Rust" from Voyeurs (1998)

November 2023

1. XavlegbmaofffassssitimiwoamndutroabcwapwaeiippohfffX - "Bone Saw" from Gore E.P. (2016) [submitted by Daniel]

2. Lorna Shore - "Welcome Back, O' Sleeping Dreamer" from Pain Remains (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

3. Mental Cruelty - "Obsessis a Daemonio" from Zwielicht (2023)

4. Gravemind - "Deadspace" from The Deathgate (2017)

5. The Browning - "Poison" from Poison (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Dagames - "Die Die Die" from Die Die Die (2016)

7. Any Given Day - "Unbreakable" from Unbreakable (2023)

8. Parkway Drive - "Vice Grip" from Ire (2015)

9. Polaris - "Nightmare" from Fatalism (2023)

10. Amaranthe - "Viral" from Manifest (2020) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Kingdom of Giants - "Burner" from Passenger (2017)

12. Sikth - "In This Light" from Death of a Dead Day (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Trivium - "Sickness Unto You" from What the Dead Men Say (2020)

14. All That Remains - "Dead Wrong" from For We Are Many (2010)

15. Left to Suffer - "Consistent Suffering" from Feral (2023)

16. Demon Hunter - "The End" from Outlive (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. Every Time I Die - "Revival Mode" from Ex Lives (2012) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

18. Of Mice & Men - "Purified" from The Flood (2011)

19. Invent Animate - "Naturehold" from Everchanger (2014)

20. Termina - "Blood Echo" from Dysphoria (2021)

21. Rising Insane - "Demons" from Demons (2023)

22. Annisokay - "Monstercrazy" from The Lucid Dream (Er) (2012)

23. Hollow Front - "Letting Go" from Letting Go (2023)

24. Heart of a Coward - "Around a Girl (in 80 Days)" from Hope and Hindrance (2012)

25. Johnny Booth - "Follower" from Firsthand Accounts (2019)

26. Knut - "Shine" from Leftovers (1997) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

27. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "The Running Board" from Calculating Infinity (1999)

28. Converge - "Drop Out" from You Fail Me (2004)

29. Frontierer - "Tumoric" from Unoxidized (2018)

30. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - "Sammy Jankis" from Danza 3: The Series of Unfortunate Events (2010)

31. Betraying the Martyrs - "THE VEIL" from GODSPEED (2023)

Here's my review summary:

You know how much I like when bands are in a transitional phase through albums. This once-metalcore/hardcore band Code Orange is already making their way towards alt-/industrial metal, and although Forever and Underneath will share the reign in that transition, The Above is an amazing continuation! The band that would go on to perform massive tours and even a WWE concert started off as an underground high school band from Pennsylvania named Code Orange Kids. After releasing their debut Love Is Love/Return to Dust, they dropped "Kids" from their name and showed the world what they're capable of in I Am King and Forever. Then Underneath showed them adding a more industrial/alternative flavor to their metal/hardcore. With The Above, they drop the hardcore violence and let their new form emerge. Throughout these 14 songs that alternate between rock-on alt-metal to electrifying industrial metal, with some bits of their earlier metalcore/hardcore, lead vocalist Jami Morgan performs moody whispering and savage screaming while guitarist Reba Meyers adds in her clean singing. The other two guitarists Eric "Shade" Balderose and Dominic Landolina can pull off harmonic chords and brutal riffing. The rhythm section consisting of Max Portnoy (from Tallah, and the son of Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy) and bassist Joe Goldman has undeniable groove. And early on in this journey is a killer anthem in which the one and only Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins performs his signature nasal singing over an ominous bridge. The Above continues Code Orange's imagination in different eras. They look back at the past, stand by the present, and plan out their future, checking out different styles to add to their own. Their song delivery has always been in great display as they go above and beyond!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Never Far Apart", "Take Shape", "A Drone Opting Out of the Hive", "Splinter the Soul", "Grooming My Replacement", "But a Dream...", "The Above"

For fans of: Circle of Dust, Northlane, Tallah

My review from 3 years ago: https://metal.academy/reviews/17393/22547

These guys can deny the genre status of the style they popularized, but this is a prime example of modern djent:

Wow, they do sound similar! I honestly can't tell if that one's a coincidence or influence. Now here's another song (from a children's show!) that uses a similar riff to "Children of the Grave", but most likely an influence:

Good luck with your new job, Daniel!

An 11-minute progressive epic with different vocal/guitar styles contrasting well:

Prog/alt-metal with a groove-powered breakdown perfect for some live moshing:

Anyone who has deemed Slipknot as strictly nu metal probably hasn't heard their thrashier songs like this strong highlight:

Scathingly killer extreme thrashy nu metal:

Although it is likely to be a coincidence, it doesn't seem that way. The Vanusa riff sounds like if Black Sabbath recorded "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" 3 years prior, before Tony Iommi started downtuning his guitar.

Battle-ready nu/alt-metal that fits well for the shows and movies that use this single:

Definitely some inspiration in the instrumentation for "Paranoid", though the Half-Life track has more of a hard rock/garage rock sound.

Yep, I agree that it's definitely inspiration. I also found out that the bridge of "Children of the Grave" (2:21) also took inspiration from "Mars":

Apparently, "Mars" also inspired "The Imperial March" and "Imperial Attack" themes from Star Wars, with "Venus" inspiring "The Force Theme".

A few lists I decided to make. Here's my top 10 of the 1980s:

1. Voivod - Dimension Hatröss (1988)

2. Voivod - Killing Technology (1987)

3. Voivod - Nothingface (1989)

4. Godflesh - Godflesh (1988)

5. Dark Angel - Darkness Descends (1986)

6. Watchtower - Control and Resistance (1989)

7. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly (1985)

8. Annihilator - Alice in Hell (1989)

9. Sadus - Illusions (1988)

10. Godflesh - Streetcleaner (1989)

My top release for each year of the 80s:

1980: Scorpions - Animal Magnetism

1981: Riot - Fire Down Under

1982: Scorpions - Blackout

1983: Metallica - Kill 'Em All

1984: Voivod - War and Pain

1985: Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly

1986: Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

1987: Voivod - Killing Technology

1988: Voivod - Dimension Hatröss

1989: Voivod - Nothingface

And my top 10 of the 1970s:

1. Scorpions - Taken by Force (1978)

2. Riot - Rock City (1977)

3. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (1970)

4. Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)

5. Deep Purple - Deep Purple in Rock (1970)

6. Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)

7. Riot - Narita (1979)

8. Scorpions - In Trance (1975)

9. Scorpions - Virgin Killer (1976)

10. Scorpions - Lovedrive (1979)

The next time I update my metal releases per year list, I'll extend it to around 1975/1976.

So those 3 Riot albums really show their hard rock/heavy metal sound for me, even though their is some debate over their first two albums being metal. If I'm ever up to making an exploration through another metal band starting out in the 70s, I might continue this thread later. But I'm done here for now...

Memorable riffing is another outstanding piece of early 80s speedy heavy metal:

Fire Down Under is the album that really baby-sealed their heavy metal sound, after their first two hard rock/metal albums. Here are my thoughts:

Speed was a new and fresh idea in the early 1980s, with some metal albums paving the way for other bands kickstarting speed/thrash metal in its full form. Fire Down Under is one of those albums. Vocalist Guy Speranza charges through with charisma and strength, while guitarist Mark Reale has glorious fun in his metal soloing and rhythm. They certainly have the essential for all those rock-on songs and speedier tracks. It's just upsetting that both an amazing vocalist and a master-mindful guitarist are gone from this world. Once again, RIP... Carry on through the fight!

4.5/5

Metal enough in my opinion: yes

The more metallic direction is already taking shape in many songs in Narita, especially in this explosive piece of early speed metal that is the title instrumental:

Well at least Narita has some earlier metal riffs, with some songs hinting at their later speedier sound. Here are my thoughts:

The members of the band continue to impress fans of their sound. The vibrant energy shows their motivation. They continue their hard rock/heavy metal sound with slightly more metal emphasis. There are even songs that hint at the direction they would take in their next album Fire Down Under. Yep, Narita already has some songs heading there with the searing soloing of Mark Reale and the mighty vocals of Guy Speranza. RIP those two awesome musicians along with original guitarist L.A. Kouvaris who wrote some lyrics for Narita but passed guitar duties to Rick Ventura who's also quite great. Jimmy Iommi keeps up the bass pumps, while Peter Bitelli stays steady behind the drum kit. While there are a few songs that lean into a catchy rock sound, the more metallic direction is already taking shape in many others, especially in the explosive piece of early speed metal that is the title instrumental. The American heavy metal scene was starting to form, and Riot was ready to enter it. So if you're up for the challenge in Narita, buckle up! It's gonna be a heavy flight....

4/5

Metal enough in my opinion: yes

A graceful catchy heavy metal tune without ever going too far into the mainstream:

I decided to continue this project with one more band from the 70s, this one I actually once enjoyed for their later US power metal albums, Riot. I'm just gonna look back at their albums with original vocalist Guy Speranza, starting with their debut...

To paraphrase a Honeymooners quote, they're a RIOT! One of the earlier American heavy metal bands, Riot was formed in 1975 in New York City. Their mascot is a buff warrior with a baby seal face, apparently suggested by one of the producers' girlfriend who fought against animal poaching. Riot would then become synonymous with classic heavy metal in America and battle against record labels who don't allow what they want but give them what they don't want. Their debut album Rock City already shows the band rolling through. Those guitars rise up high in raging speed of the dynamic duo Mark Reale and Lou A. Kouvaris, in perfect balance with the memorable vocals of Guy Speranza. 3 talented band members, sadly long gone. RIP... Also noticeable is the attention-grabbing bass of Jimmy Iommi and the speedy driving drums of Peter Bitelli. The band can make graceful catchy tunes without ever going too far into the mainstream, though there are a couple tracks where they lean toward more of a bluesy Aerosmith kind of sound. With Riot's heaviness that would be cranked up later, Rock City proves that the band can light up the world today as they had in the late 70s!

4.5/5

Metal enough in my opinion: yes

Here's an example. Check out the small riff fiddle that occurs multiple times throughout this Converge song (first time at 0:23):

And then a highly similar small riff fiddle throughout the outro of this My Dying Bride song (first time at 7:18):

The more suspicious conspiracy theorists out there would think:

But I think YES! Two different bands, genres, and songs, one similar riff fiddle.

The founding trio is whole again! The other two being the two Johns, Petrucci and Myung. And of course, don't forget James Labrie and Jordan Rudess.

Their attempt to turn an acoustic Native American ballad into an long epic ends up failing and sounding too draggy:

The ultimate epic of the Tarja era of Nightwish, greatly blending together all the album has already offered:

Nightwish is one of the most popular symphonic/power metal bands today, and was an essential band for me long ago. I could listen to this band while playing RuneScape, which fits well with the fact that one of the first song I've discovered from this band in this album was used in a video for that game. Here are my thoughts:

Once I had a dream of what metal would sound like with lots of TSFH-like orchestration, and this was it when I discovered this nearly a decade ago. Today I feel like I had been too optimistic. As varied as this album is, I'm starting to think the orchestra overpowers the metal. But what else is there from a full orchestra? Despite the orchestral overdose, many songs stay heavy, and founding keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen is able to display his own synth work. But let's get over the whole "selling out" nonsense... There are plenty of heavy anthems, and while I enjoy the orchestration in many of the tracks, it's when they rely too much on the orchestration without balancing it out with the metal, and ends up sounding too draggy. But when the metal and the orchestration have the correct balance, that's what creates the magic. All in all, I would consider this album the weakest in my revisit trip, but I would never consider Once or Nightwish super-bad. However, there are some things I might object to. The production and style is a bit over-the-top, but still mostly enjoyable. I would recommend this album for any fan of gothic-infused symphonic power metal. It is different from their earlier material, yet worth trying this bombastic rollercoaster. Though this is Tarja's last ride...

3.5/5

And that's it for the bands I have in mind for this thread. If I have any more in my mind, I'll continue this thread, but that's all for now, metal folks!

I'm fine with rapping in a few metal genres, but in symphonic metal?! Nope! I'm outta here!

An epic upbeat piece of symphonic gothic metal, featuring the operatic soprano singing of ex-Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen, which simultaneously made me interested in both Within Temptation and Nightwish:

Although my symphonic power metal roots can be traced back as early as Kamelot, Within Temptation was the first band to make me up to losing my strictness in staying in power metal and allow me to start exploring full-on symphonic metal, with one song even directing me to Nightwish! The symphonic metal chain was just beginning for me. Here are my thoughts:

Unlike those other bands that I discovered via their earlier releases, I was hooked to Within Temptation via this album Hydra, only weeks after its release. The music is pretty good here. Vocalist Sharon den Adel sings nice melodies, though she doesn't have her earlier power that other female singers have. As the metal instrumentation stand their ground, the symphonic keys and orchestra lift it up in cinematic atmosphere. Beautiful, right? You just gotta admire how well the band can diversify their sound. Here we have a symphonic metal/rock sound that often dives into their earlier gothic metal and their later pop/alt-rock, all while making sure their fans know that it's the same Within Temptation as before. The album almost has the same "metal opera" vibe as Avantasia, with only 4 songs having Sharon's beautiful voice as the sole singing style. 4 of the other have different guest singers, and two of them work well while the other two don't. And the remaining two songs have some background growling by guitarist Robert Westerholt, in clear prominence for the first time since the band's gothic doom debut Enter. The atmosphere doesn't greatly catch your attention as it should have. Despite all that, Hydra is an album for new fans and die-hard collectors. With Temptation could still stand strong and not lose steam, at least until their subsequent albums that would show a highly different era for the band....

3.5/5

And because how divisive the album's style is, here's a quick genre analysis:

1. Let Us Burn - Symphonic metal/symphonic rock

2. Dangerous - Symphonic metal/heavy metal

3. And We Run - Symphonic metal/symphonic rock/rap metal

4. Paradise (What About Us?) - Symphonic metal/gothic metal

5. Edge of the World - Symphonic rock/symphonic metal

6. Silver Moonlight - Gothic metal/symphonic metal

7. Covered by Roses - Symphonic metal/alternative metal

8. Dog Days - Symphonic rock/pop rock/alternative metal

9. Tell Me Why - Symphonic metal/gothic metal/power metal/melodic metalcore

10. Whole World is Watching - Alternative rock/pop rock/symphonic rock

Primary genres: Symphonic metal, symphonic rock

Secondary genres: Gothic metal, alternative metal, pop rock

Having to revisit this poor flow-damaging ballad almost made me wanna cry more than just a little in agony:

An 11-minute epic highlight for metal opera project Avantasia:

Avantasia is what introduced me to the ambitious idea of multi-musician/vocalist metal opera concept albums, and it was because of ex-Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan in the first track that I ended up stumbling upon this band and entering the metal opera world. Here are my thoughts:

Tobias Sammet's Avantasia started off with two Metal Opera albums in the early 2000s. The albums have many guest musicians and artists from bands like Helloween, Gamma Ray, Virgin Steele, Stratovarius, and Within Temptation. They were, just WERE, an essential part of my power metal discoveries. After reforming with a 2007 two-EP series Lost in Space, the album promoted by those two EPs had arrived... 2008's The Scarecrow was hitting the charts in not just Germany but other European countries also, such as Czech Republic, Greece, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland. The different sound and atmosphere replaced earlier fans with new ones. It's more of a blend of hard rock and power metal, with guests coming from bands of both genres. A great album with monumental vocalists! Sammet made a new lineup for the album which consists of himself performing bass and vocals, ex-Heaven's Gate members Sascha Paeth and Miro on guitars and keyboards, respectively, and Kiss drummer Eric Singer. Some guitar solos were provided by Gamma Ray guitarists Henjo Richter and Kai Hansen (though I wish Hansen could've also done some vocals) and Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker. As for the guest vocalists, it was because of ex-Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan in the first track that I ended up stumbling upon this band and entering the metal opera world. Other vocalists from big bands include Jorn Lande (ex-Masterplan), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), Bob Catley (Magnum), Amanda Somerville (Aina), Alice Cooper, and Oliver Hartmann (ex-At Vance). This bombastic hard rock/power metal album also has a bit of classic heavy metal, soft rock, pop rock, and a couple ballads. Hard rock and power metal songs are the main course of this meal, and most of that part of the meal is what I really like. However, the softer appetizers disrupt the flow, often not fitting well with the heavier vibe, with the exception of the closing track that ends things smoothly as another highlight. All in all, The Scarecrow is a strong comeback for the band, the first part of the Wicked Trilogy continuing in their 2010 albums The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon. The album is a bit uneven with a couple weak tracks and Sammet getting more vocals than one of the guests and vice versa. Nonetheless, a very solid metal opera album....

4/5

And because how divisive the album's style is, here's a quick genre analysis:

1. Twisted Mind - Hard rock/heavy metal/power metal

2. The Scarecrow - Hard rock/Celtic rock/symphonic metal/power metal

3. Shelter From the Rain - Power metal/speed metal/hard rock

4. Carry Me Over - Hard rock/pop rock

5. What Kind of Love - Pop rock/soft rock

6. Another Angel Down - Power metal/heavy metal

7. The Toy Master - Hard rock/power metal

8. Devil in the Belfry - Power metal/hard rock

9. Cry Just a Little - Acoustic rock/soft rock

10. I Don't Believe in Your Love - Hard rock/heavy metal

11. Lost in Space - Pop rock/hard rock

Primary genres: Hard rock, power metal

Secondary genres: Heavy metal, pop rock, soft rock

Looks like your list is restored with a different name: https://metal.academy/lists/single/261

Whew! An epic list like this shall not be lost.

The ultimate anthem for this band that started off as a spin-off to DragonForce:

Around the same time as I discovered Dragonland, I also discovered this band that started off as a spinoff to DragonForce. Power Quest was formed by keyboardist Steve Williams who had just left DragonForce when they still had the name DragonHeart. A couple other DragonForce members were also in Power Quest; guitarist Sam Totman in the debut, and ex-vocalist ZP Theart in the demo. This association encouraged me to make my power metal interest a reality. Here are my thoughts:

Power Quest's debut Wings of Forever has some similarity to DragonForce's Valley of the Damned released next year, though here's what different from DragonForce's debut. Wings of Forever is a bit humble of a start for Power Quest. I mean, there is the technical speed that is what many power metal bands were doing 20 years before today, but this band does it all without having to expand their resources. The band had trouble find an actual drummer, so they instead used a drum machine with the nickname "Scott Michaels". It sounds quite realistic, but it gives the album less organic strength. A real drummer would've made this a perfect offering. While DragonForce is known for their fast headbanging songs with the length extended by their solos, Power Quest seems to have more focus on epic-sounding atmosphere to cover that length which can make things slightly uneven, though they would have less of that issue in later albums. The atmosphere is created by Steve Williams who also bring the keys up to the front stage alongside the melodic guitar wizardry by Sam Totman to get you hooked. Other guitarist Adam Bickers is Sam Totman's soloing buddy for this album, just like Herman Li but without any 8-bit tricks. Many of the songs have pure electric guitar melody right in the face! The versatile vocals of Alessio Garavello have great harmony. I guess ZP Theart would've probably made some songs sound more like DragonForce, but Alessio is the real star here. Williams' keyboards range from smooth ambience to serene beauty to swift soloing, and he's able to show the lengthy side of his earlier writing in the longer epics. His writing evolution started out from his time with DragonForce, and when he worked with Sam Totman and ZP Theart (demo only) among other members in Power Quest's debut, and their DragonForce influences show, though not proven until next year with the release of Valley of the Damned. By then, Totman and Bickers had already left the band, and the last thing Totman could do for Power Quest was add in some soloing contributions to their second album Neverworld. As the band's tenure went on, so many different instrumentalists and vocalists took the place of those who were leaving, which further turned the band towards a different path. While it ended up giving the band a more mature identity of their own, the time when they were known as a DragonForce spin-off should be remembered. Whether being original or identical, the quality is what's worth this album being added to your power metal collection!

4.5/5

I probably wouldn't have gotten into the more symphonic side of power metal without accidentally discovering this album's glorious title track in a video that was wrongly credited to DragonForce as the band. This is NOT that video:

I probably wouldn't have gotten into the more symphonic side of power metal without accidentally discovering this album's glorious title track in a video that was wrongly credited to DragonForce as the band. Here are my thoughts:

Fixing some mistakes from their debut, Dragonland's second album Holy War has energetic progression, as orchestral keys and guitar fury slam through clay-cracking bass and pounding drums, alongside the sweet vocals of Jonas Heidgert, as if the entire band is a dragon. A Rhapsody (of Fire)-influenced dragon! Heidgert stands out as another amazing vocalist in the power metal league. His unique delivery is out of this world. Almost every track has majestic glory and blazing power metal speed, but what causes this album to not be as perfect as I used to think it was is a power ballad that starts too soft and insincere, though it gets much better when it speeds up. Also the Japanese edition and deluxe reissue comes with an upbeat cover of a Limahl hit, plus two useless acoustic interludes that are better left alone. This is a more enjoyable improvement from their debut, performing their sound with fantasy pride and not too much cheesiness. I miss out on my youthful days of loving this band to the max, but I need to stay true to my mature evolution. Nonetheless, Dragonland have done well in pleasing fans of power metal!

4.5/5

Cool backstory behind your metal roots, Xephyr! Avantasia and Nightwish were two of my entryway bands into symphonic power metal and symphonic metal. Same Avantasia album even! Around that time, a teacher in this homeschooling center I was in (remember, I was a teen back then) told me about Dream Theater, a band she really likes, but I wasn't interested in progressive metal yet. That was, until I discovered Ayreon and that project's sci-fi prog-metal opera albums got me hooked, so shortly after, I listened to more of Dream Theater, and progressive metal (albeit the melodic kind that I was into back then but not now) became my third dominant genre in my past metal interest (after power metal and symphonic metal). And it was great that I finally got interested in Opeth 3 years before today, though I probably should have 5 years prior, but hey, I felt too young for the harsher stuff back then. Also my brother found this Plankton AI cover of Tool's "The Pot" recently, which is both awesome and hilarious: