Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

Here's my list (mostly stinker albums I found in my metalcore rediscovery journey, each 2 stars or less):

1. Fuck the Facts - Mullet Fever (2001)

2. Premonitions of War - Premonitions of War (2000)

3. State Craft - Until the Darkness Is Gone (1998)

4. Nineironspitfire - Seventh Soul Sacrificed (1996)

5. Downcast - Downcast (1991)

6. State Craft - Never Forget... (1996)

7. Reprisal - Boundless Human Stupidity (2000)

8. State Craft - To Celebrate the Forlorn Seasons (2000)

9. Clear - Deeper Than Blood (1999)

10. One King Down - Absolve (1995)

Add some gothic-ish industrial metal to a dance club with this superb highlight:

A couple tracks that are exactly what the album title suggests, gothic electronic anthems:

It's been a long while, like under 5 months, since I've last updated my "favorite metal albums by years" list. I will certainly still update this, while putting my "favorite metal albums" thread list to rest because of the Top 20 releases feature. Here's my updated list:

Beginning oldies (1984-1989)/B.M. (Before Metalcore):

1984: Voivod - War and Pain

1985: Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly

1986: Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

1987: Voivod - Killing Technology

1988: Sadus - Illusions

1989: Godflesh - Streetcleaner

Old golden classics and millennium transition highlights (1990-2001)/Metalcore's humble beginnings and light of day-seeing classics:

1990: Rorschach - Remain Sedate

1991: Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

1992: Sadus - A Vision of Misery

1993: Old - The Musical Dimensions of Sleastak

1994: Circle of Dust - Brainchild

1995: Fear Factory - Demanufacture

1996: Morning Again - Hand of Hope

1997: Will Haven - El Diablo

1998: Embodyment - Embrace the Eternal

1999: The Kovenant - Animatronik

2000: Living Sacrifice - The Hammering Process

2001: Candiria - 300 Percent Density

Modern favorites (2002-2013)/Rise of the full Revolution:

2002: Despised Icon - Consumed by Your Poison

2003: Hatebreed - The Rise of Brutality

2004: Mnemic - The Audio Injected Soul

2005: Trivium - Ascendancy

2006: Sikth - Death of a Dead Day

2007: A Day to Remember - For Those Who Have Heart

2008: Dead to Fall - Are You Serious?

2009: Vektor - Black Future

2010: Crystal Lake - Into the Great Beyond

2011: Trivium - In Waves

2012: Twelve Foot Ninja - Silent Machine

2013: Living Sacrifice - Ghost Thief

The best of the most recent (2014-present)/A greater new uprising:

2014: Beartooth - Disgusting

2015: Caligula's Horse - Bloom

2016: Issues - Headspace

2017: Gothminister - The Other Side

2018: The Browning - Geist

2019: Northlane - Alien

2020: Code Orange - Underneath

2021: Trivium - In the Court of the Dragon

2022: Lorna Shore - Pain Remains

2023 albums I'm looking forward to getting:

In Flames - Foregone (revisiting one of the melodeath bands I used to enjoy)

Avatar - Dance Devil Dance (revisiting one of the melodeath bands I used to enjoy)

Code Orange - What is Really Underneath?

Insomnium - Anno 1696 (self-recommendation in an attempt to finally get into listening to a band I've heard of since first listening to that genre)

For the Fallen Dreams - For the Fallen Dreams (self-recommendation)

Chelsea Grin - Suffer in Heaven

Kamelot - The Awakening (revisiting one of the only power metal bands I still want to keep)

August Burns Red - Death Below

Ne Obliviscaris - Exul

Bury Tomorrow - The Seventh Sun (self-recommendation)

Enter Shikari - A Kiss for the Whole World

Deathstars - Everything Destroys You

The epic climax of an amazing journey of my power metal nostalgia:

I did my review, here's its summary:

Any open-minded music fan should try at least one mature concept album to explore the story that you might find in a book or a movie. All the band members have worked together to build the soundtrack to a story written by guitarist Rafael Bittencourt, proving that their teamwork really made the dream work! There's a lot of headbanging power metal action, complete with professional guitar solo dueling between Bittencourt and Kiko Loureiro, and the unique vocal power of Edu Falaschi. However, the speed is often balanced out with some softer ballads or mid-tempo tunes. What can also add to this grand sound includes many orchestral/progressive/Latin influences, along with guest appearances from vocalists of bands Edenbridge, Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Blind Guardian. It's quite a journey for even the heavier metalheads to take, and its "classic" status isn't going away anywhere!

4.5/5

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

Architects - "When We Were Young" (3:13) from The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit (2022)

Deathstars - "This Is" (3:42) from This Is (2023)

Fear Factory - "A Therapy for Pain" (9:43) from Demanufacture (1995)

Gothminister - "Angel" (3:31) from Gothic Electronic Anthems (2003)

Omega Lithium - "Colossus" (4:57) from Kinetik (2011)

Strapping Young Lad - "Love?" (4:53) from Alien (2005)

Total length: 29:59

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

The Browning - "Carnage" (3:04) from Geist (2018)

Chelsea Grin - "All Hail the Fallen King" (2:52) from My Damnation (2011)

Dead to Fall - "Stupid?" (2:22) from Are You Serious? (2008)

From Autumn to Ashes - "Short Stories with Tragic Endings" (9:24) from Too Bad You're Beautiful (2001)

Memphis May Fire - "This Light I Hold" (4:08) from This Light I Hold (2016)

Shai Hulud - "The Consummate Dragon" (2:59) from That Within Blood Ill-Tempered (2003)

Trivium - "Insurrection" (4:57) from Shogun (2008)

Total length: 29:46

Here are my submissions for the March Infinite playlist:

Burst - "Cripple God" (6:42) from Lazarus Bird (2008)

Ne Obliviscaris - "Devour Me, Colossus (Part I): Blackholes" (12:37) from Citadel (2014)

Queensrÿche - "Bridge" (3:29) from Promised Land (1994)

Today Is the Day - "Going to Hell" (7:09) from In the Eyes of God (1999)

Total length: 29:57

Here are my submissions for the March Gateway playlist:

Celldweller - "Frozen" (7:00) from Celldweller (2003)

Demon Hunter - "Silence the World" (7:13) from Exile (2022)

Gone Is Gone - "Violescent" (4:17) from Gone Is Gone (2016)

Lacuna Coil - "My Spirit" (5:50) from Dark Adrenaline (2012)

Through Fire - "Stronger - Extended Version" (4:05) from Breathe (2016)

Total length: 28:25

An alternative/progressive metal/rock highlight of fuzzy guitar magic, from the members of Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, and At the Drive-In:

I've done my review for that Gone is Gone release. Here's the link to my review: https://metal.academy/reviews/28681/26014

And here's its summary:

Gone is Gone offer really high-quality music in their plate. Mastodon bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders shows his more melodic heartful side, together with Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, and At the Drive-In drummer Tony Hajjar, and keyboardist/guitarist Mike Zarin. The members' tight unity of music makes a spectacular 8-track EP of alternative/progressive metal/rock. A great thing about supergroups (though they prefer to be considered just a band) is, when each member is from a popular band, chances are you can get spectacular results, and Gone is Gone is a grand example!

5/5

I'll take Borealis please, Prog/Power Metal always intrigues me because there's normally very little Progressive Metal to be found on them, so I'll be interested to see if this one actually holds up. 

I was thinking of choosing that band because they're the most notable band I can think of in that list that I haven't checked out yet, but that's OK. You got them first, so it's yours, Xephyr.

I'm gonna go with the Gone is Gone release. Upon research, I noticed that band has Mastodon bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, so I look forward to hearing what he can do there.

Your turn, Saxy!

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Godflesh - "Spite" (from Pure, 1992)

4.5/5. The opening track of this playlist can be the sign of a shining gift.

Celldweller - "Into the Void - HARD BOX Remix" (from Into the Void (Remix Contest Compilation), 2022)

5/5. But not as much as this remix! Klayton continues his over 3-decade career of industrial metal entertainment that I can't believe I didn't get into until just recently. Such a killer remix, and while the electronics are obviously there, it's in a great amount, not too much or too little. I believe this remixer can really REGENERATE.

3TEETH - "President X" (from Metawar, 2019)

4.5/5. "I'm your same old hex, I'm President X, replace me, I'll be next!"

Mnemic - "Tattoos" (from Mechanical Spin Phenomena, 2003)

4/5. This one has a bit of a Mushroomhead vibe while staying industrial.

Excessive Force - "Divebomb" (from Gentle Death, 1993)

4.5/5. You'll especially find greatness in this track that at one point makes a subtle brief turn into the "Hall of the Mountain King", almost like what Savatage did in their 1987 album. I love it!

Ghostemane - "Hydrochloride" (from ANTI-ICON, 2020)

4/5. This one is an edgy hard-hitter of noise. "I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE!!!"

Static-X - "Hollow (Project Regeneration) (from Project: Regeneration Vol. 1, 2020)

4.5/5. Static-X knows how to maintain the sound they've had since their earlier albums even after the untimely passing of Wayne Static, thereby doing him great justice. RIP Wayne and Tera... This really does sound close to what the band had in the early 2000s. That's quite a bad-a** tribute to their lost leader.

Ministry - "Disinformation" (from Moral Hygiene, 2021)

4/5. "Fake news. SAD!" A nice song to remind us of the plague of false information.

Northlane - "Talking Heads" (from Alien, 2019)

4.5/5. One vocalist ruling with 10 techniques! The sludgy nu metal part of their cyber metalcore sound has really expanded in their recent albums.

Motionless in White - "Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2" (from Graveyard Shift, 2017)

4/5. This is my type of alternative/industrial/metalcore from the masters of that blend, Motionless in White!

1000 Homo DJs - "Apathy" (from Supernaut, 1990)

3.5/5. Fun early industrial rock/metal, though a bit repetitive.

Pitchshifter - "New Flesh P.S.I." (from Submit, 1992)

3/5. This next track is an early-Godflesh-infused remix of a song from their debut Industrial. Not the best, but it works well for most other industrial metal fans.

Gothminister - "Nachtzehrer" (from Empire of Dark Salvation, 2005)

3.5/5. A weird yet satisfying gothic-infused industrial metal treat.

Crossbreed - "Stem" (from Synthetic Division, 2001)

4/5. I can give a thumbs-up to what is considered an industrial/nu metal classic. The verses are far more tolerable than the verses of songs by, say, Lady Gaga. A bad-a** twist in the sound of the aforesaid Static-X.

Strapping Young Lad - "Almost Again" (from The New Black, 2006)

4.5/5. Drummer Gene Hoglan deserves some praise for his mighty drumming blasts, but you know who else? Devin Townsend for his fine lyrics and raw vocals, not to mention founding this band! Is it just me or does the guy in the last 10 seconds of the song screaming and collapsing sound like Hoglan after all this impressive work? Hmm... At least he will be well-suited for a drum soloing battle with Meshuggah's Tomas Haake.

Combichrist - "Hate Like Me" (from One Fire, 2019)

4.5/5. This is worth listening to for some f***ing amazing energy. Those vocals are h*lla powerful.

Omega Lithium - "Stigmata" (from Dreams in Formaline, 2009)

5/5. I love this awesome song, and it makes me wish Omega Lithium would one day reform. Mya Mortensen is really pretty, and pretty talented in the industrial/gothic metal scene. You can almost consider her the Lady Gaga of metal! I can thank my brother for showing me this song.

Nine Inch Nails - "March of the Pigs" (from The Downward Spiral, 1994)

4.5/5. Besides this song being one of the heavier tracks of its album, metal enough for inclusion in this playlist, HORSE the Band's cover of the song intrigues me. It works as a soundtrack to a panic attack. And halfway through, just when you think it's over early, it starts up again!

Fear Factory - "Disobey - Disruptor Remix" (from Recoded, 2022)

5/5. HOLY SH*T, another cyber-techno remix of a fantastic song, that still rules?!? We need more of this!

Lindemann - "Skills in Pills" (from Skills in Pills, 2015)

4.5/5. Interesting song about pills, drugs, and booze. All part of Rammstein vocalist Till Lindemann's solo project of Peter Tägtgren from Hypocrisy and Pain.

Ludovico - "Burn Everything" (from Haunted People, 2022)

4/5. Emotions of frustration and loneliness can be let out via dark music. Even when the screams sound closer to whispering, they still have quite the power. The feeling is relevant for the earlier time of the virus.

Deathstars - "Death Dies Hard" (from Night Electric Night, 2009)

3.5/5. This one hits hard, sounding good like a descendent of Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, and Nine Inch Nails, in a way that I actually like. Hate what you want, but cheers to this band for carrying on!

ASP - "Krabat" (from Zaubererbruder: der Krabat-Liederzyklus, 2008)

3/5. The violin is beautiful, adding some pleasant folk vibes to an otherwise mediocre Neue Deutsche Härte track.

The Mad Capsule Markets - "Island" (from OSC-DIS, 2001)

3.5/5. A quite funny song. While staying in industrial metal territory, the verses frolic happily before a raging hardcore chorus.

Author & Punisher - "Glorybox" (from Kruller, 2022)

4/5. The shoegaze-ish direction for this band is especially true in this convincing Portishead cover. Sounds weird but I love it!

Neurotech - "Through Hardships" (from Stigma, 2015)

4.5/5. This is quite an epic standout to this last leg of this playlist. You can marvel through all the hardships you wanna overcome! Amazing, huh?! Quite an astonishing motivational message. "You're not alone." "Things will get better."

Rammstein - "Adieu" (from Zeit, 2022)

4/5. This marching finale has reflective piano and a sign-off message, "You have to go the final way alone", rather ironic compared to the previous song's message.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? Despite a few slight bumps throughout... Anyway, I sure would recommend this to any industrial metal fan and anyone who isn't into industrial metal but is up to getting into a great start in enjoying 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:

Lorna Shore - "Immortal" (from Immortal, 2020)

5/5. Right off the bat, the epic powerful title opener of its original album and this playlist is a surefire deathcore highlight! CJ McCreery lets out every vocal style he could possibly do throughout a thick sea of brutal glory.

Cave In - "Until Your Heart Stops (Segue 2)" (from Until Your Heart Stops, 1998)

4.5/5. Then there's a sudden jump into the title track of Cave In's debut album, with the most Slayer-ish riff-fight you'll ever witness, before some last melodic twists and concluding with the noise-ridden interlude "Segue 2".

This Day Forward - "Sunfalls and Watershine" (from Kairos, 2002)

5/5. I can't believe how old this song is, over 20 years old! It makes you think of "constant dreamscapes" and distant memories. Too bad they switched into the post-hardcore of Alexisonfire after this EP, then split up later. It might be easy for me to sing and scream along to this song. It features Thursday vocalist Geoff Rickly, further solidifying the hardcore scene's knowledge of This Day Forward. Anyone who thinks these bands are bad and ruin scenes should listen and let the nostalgia change their minds.

Drowningman - "Code Breaking Hearts" (from Rock and Roll Killing Machine, 2001)

4.5/5. This is a classic highlight, starting with speedy aggression before some more melodic sections, all great when you're along for the ride.

All Shall Perish - "Never Ending War" (from Hate.Malice.Revenge, 2003)

5/5. This is also a thunderous highlight, a 6 and a half minute epic of powerful chords and leads, not to mention the earthquake-including breakdowns.

Earth Crisis - "Broken Foundation" (from Gomorrah's Season Ends, 1996)

4.5/5. This amazing early metalcore track got my attention rolling from the beginning "PAIN!!!!" scream.

Botch - "Transitions from Persona to Object" (from We Are the Romans, 1999)

5/5. This song greatly represents the organic nature of the album We are the Romans. Every riff is played naturally, never forced, as if the riffs are inventing themselves. After an eerie intro melody, the song continues into its awesomeness, riff after riff, all in a perfect groove mood. The heavy riffs lead to high dissonance in a passage that brings back the lower riffs and vocals. The song ends with frantic discord fading out to a drumbeat.

August Burns Red - "Bones" (from Guardians, 2020)

4.5/5. A soaring anthem with a memorable chorus in great pace.

Issues - "COMA" (from Headspace, 2016)

5/5. I just love this one, including all that lyrical meaning. The bridge near the two-minute mark halts the melody with brief heaviness and growls before continuing that in the final chorus. You can consider Tyler Carter a vocal descendant of the Jonas Brothers and Michael Jackson despite his recent...well, issues.

Northlane - "Singularity" (from Singularity, 2013)

4.5/5. Actually why am I mentioning Michael Jackson? If I worry too much about him, I would become disempowered by media icons. Terrence McKenna gave those who have listened to this album up to this track this advice, and it's amazing advice to follow. The instrumental itself gives me warm chills ("warm chills", sounds oxymoronic), it's so beautiful! The message is now more unbelievably relevant than ever.

Rorschach - "Traditional" (from Protestant, 1993)

5/5. This highlight takes on the hardcore thrash that sounds like Voivod's first two albums in interesting dissonance, often twisting into violent bashing.

Crystal Lake - "Fabricated Refuge" (from The Voyages, 2020)

4.5/5. I hear a bit of a Slaughter to Prevail vibe in this song despite it being mostly amazing metalcore.

The Red Chord - "Dreaming in Dog Years" (from Fused Together in Revolving Doors, 2002)

5/5. This is perhaps the best song of its original album. After an odd 5-second intro, it explodes into absolute mayhem, great for a live setting. And coincidentally, that song is also in this month's Horde playlist.

Downcast - "System" (from Downcast, 1991)

3/5. While this song has helped in the band's attempt to create metalcore that is better off made by those bands, you might wanna check out my review for its album to find out what I really think there.

The Browning - "Standing on the Edge" (from Burn This World, 2011)

3.5/5. Not bad, but not as fantastic as the songs from the album that got me into The Browning, Geist.

Candye♡Syrup - "Idol of Death (Burst Ver.)" (from iDOL Can Dye Sick Rock!!, 2018)

4/5. This is an interesting mind-blower, screaming crust-ish deathcore verses mixed with cute Babymetal-like choruses. Good one, Daniel!

Annisokay - "Coma Blue" (from Arms, 2018)

4.5/5. Christoph Wieczorek is one of the most amazing clean vocalists in metalcore, though this band is not super popular. The bass especially rules in the instrumentation. My metalcore obsession has bled a bit into my brother's music interest that is enough to turn him into a headbanger like I am. The background orchestration is unique!

Impending Doom - "Ravenous Disease" (from Death Will Reign, 2013)

5/5. A brutal part of the Killing Floor 2 soundtrack, which I really enjoy. I need more of this kind of deathcore in my life after gaining more leeway all these years, but don't expect to descend into the depths of Infant Annihilator. The soloing near the 3-minute mark makes me let out a small sinister smile.

Trenches - "Horizons" (from Reckoner, 2022)

5/5. This one continues the intense heaviness while planning out its transition in softer melody, hinting at how melodic its original album would become as you get further.

Vatican - "Reverence" (from Ultra, 2022)

4.5/5. This has more of the heavy rage expected by fans of metalcore. It's also the first song of its original album to be a single and include clean vocals. Yeah, the singing appears sporadically throughout the album, hinting at Deftones-esque ether among the rage.

The Dillinger Escape Plan - "We Are the Storm" (from Miss Machine, 2004)

4/5. This track returns to the band's signature sonic storm attack of atoned chaos. This may be annoying for some of the lighter listeners, but being a heavy metalhead myself, I don't mind at all. There's a nice mellow guitar passage subdued into the next section, but it's a little draggy. Then the chaos returns in the last minute.

Dead to Fall - "Villainy and Virtue" (from Villainy and Virtue, 2004)

4.5/5. I love this band, and how can I not? I'm quite the metalcore addict! I wish they would make more bad-a** material like this. F***ing killer lyrics here, "THE DEPTH OF YOUR COMPASSION IS AS SHALLOW AS YOUR THOUGHTS!"

All That Remains - "The Air That I Breathe" (from The Fall of Ideals, 2006)

5/5. This is a very recognizable track that breaks the formula of its original album with a lot of different things, including the key signature being B minor instead of D and/or G, and a swift solo in the intro. Other than that, the riffs are still slightly the same but the lead melodies are more harmonic.

Trivium - "Shattering the Skies Above" (from In Waves, 2011)

5/5. Absolutely kick-A song from the God of War video game series soundtrack. Enough said!

Hatebreed - "Refuse/Resist" (from For the Lions, 2009)

4.5/5. I like this killer cover of a Sepultura classic, sounding similar while never really a clone "SILENCE BECOMES DEATH!!!"

Phinehas - "Dream Thief" (from The Fire Itself, 2021)

4.5/5. Phinehas (and Ferb. lol) are the masters of reviving the melodeath-ish metalcore scene from the second half of the 2000s. Riffing, soloing, breakdowns... This band has it all here. And great lyrics too!

Sikth - "Philistine Philosophies" (from Opacities, 2015)

5/5. Sikth will never disappoint. They still have the power from their initial run. The vocals are a perfect match to the music that sounds close to Animals as Leaders. F***ing mind-blowing guitar here! Over the two-minute mark, after an awesome verse of "falling like dominoes", the chorus is what I really love is pretty much any of rock/metal. I definitely wish for more of that!

Kingdom of Giants - "The Ride" (from Passenger, 2020)

4.5/5. The huge breakdown rules in this song, alongside the screams and cleans by Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox in a stunning guest appearance. So beautiful in this awesome song without a doubt! The band is really on fire with the clean/growl vocal variety and lyrical strength. The synths are quite pleasing. If the world ends up f***ing you up, you can't let yourself be lost, you gotta stay in the ride. Interesting Wu-Tang reference there, "CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME!" The ending breakdown multiples the power twice, sounding close to Void of Vision.

Living Sacrifice - "Despair" (from Ghost Thief, 2013)

5/5. Let's end this playlist with one more fantastic song, featuring the great Dave Peters of Throwdown. It's so brutal while maintaining this band's religious reputation. Now that's metal art! The opening solo sounds close to Slayer, and makes the rest remind me of another swan song for a band's career, the title track of the last Nevermore album The Obsidian Conspiracy. And this song's another one from the Killing Floor 2 soundtrack. "I HAVE TAKEN YOUR DESPAIR!!"

HOLY SH*T, this is probably one of the best metalcore playlists I've ever done, with almost every track ranging from 4.5 to 5 stars. I sure would recommend this to any metalcore fan and anyone who isn't into metalcore but wants to get into a great start in enjoying 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 some of my track thoughts:

Caligula’s Horse – Into the White (2013)

4.5/5. Yo. Check this song out, Infinite members. Period.

Sikth – Tupelo (2002)

4.5/5. This is a cover of a song by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, doing the original justice while keeping Sikth's identity.

Symphony X – The Accolade (1997)

4.5/5. A story is told through the vocals, a bit like the scenario of a medieval knight. It's quite excellent, and back when I was still listening to this band, I agreed that this is their best album. I love the Pantera-like riffing, balanced out with the mystical keyboards that especially appear near the 8-minute mark. F***ing powerful vocals from this man, Russell Allen ("A LEGEND FOREVER!!"). However, as I go into my own heavier direction, I've had enough of the Dream Theater-like melodic sound.

The World Is Quiet Here – Writhing Gate (2023)

4.5/5. Well it ain't gonna be quiet in this song! Holy f***, that breakdown midway through is a hard-hitter with psychotic vocals. This is something I would recommend to fans of Sikth, Dir En Grey, BTBAM, and pretty much any progressive deathcore band.

Converge & Chelsea Wolfe – Lord of Liars (2021)

4.5/5. This anguish-filled song has a bit of strain, but Kurt Ballou takes the strain out on his guitar with cool results.

Haken – Taurus (2023)

4/5. Based on the singles from Fauna that have come out so far, you can hear the best this band has to offer, staying melodic with occasional electronics and nice rhythm, while having the slightly more extreme djenty riffs they've been using since Virus. The chorus can be a throwback to Affinity. The ending is quite beautiful, complete with a change of chord. No chance that I'll completely return to that band anytime soon though...

Ihsahn – Unhealer (ft. Mikael Åkerfeldt) (2008)

4.5/5. Ihsahn is known as the frontman of black metal band Emperor, and Mikael Akerfeldt is known as the founder of deathly progressive metal/rock masters Opeth. It's great hearing both of those men's work here, alongside the bass of Lars Norberg. You might just wake up with great inspiration for progressive metal creativity. Holy sh*t, both of their growls are fantastic! The year of this album's release is 2008, and that was one of the last years Mikael could channel his f***ing incredible growls from as early as Still Life. Absolute genius!

Enslaved – Havenless (2003)

4.5/5. I'm sure every fan of progressive black metal would like this song, but I feel slightly more comfortable focusing on the former than the latter. You can also consider this epic viking metal that's worth giving respect. This really works well for a march into battle, and if anyone's up for that kind of scenario, you can find it in that song. There's still some old-school Norwegian in the chanting vocals, while the band was already moving into writing lyrics in English. A little weird, but works greatly.

The Ocean Collective – Preboreal (2023)

4.5/5. The Ocean continues to rise, still shining as one of the great progressive/post-sludge metal bands. And f*** yeah, I think we found the missing link between the Phanerozoic and Heliocentric/Anthropocentric concept eras! I love this atmospheric tune despite sounding a bit different.

In Mourning – Isle of Solace (2012)

4.5/5. This song is amazing, especially the intro. I really need to get progressive melodeath back into my life.

Ne Obliviscaris – Graal (2023)

5/5. The soloing by Benjamin Baret will really blow your mind. What's more impressive is, violinist/clean vocalist Tim Charles let his daughter guess appear on violin during the last few minutes. There's not a single bad song from this band, and I'm glad this amazing playlist ended in a bang. I look forward to that album Exul!

Saxy, let me just say, you have done such as incredible job assembling this month's Gateway and Infinite playlists! This tracklisting has encouraged me to go through the entire playlist and find good tracks from bands I already listen to along with different bands in which some of them I feel up to trying some more songs from them. Well done, please keep it up! So let's get my track thought journey started:

Sleep Token – The Summoning (2023)

4/5. There's a lot of brand-new metal to explore, and this playlist opener is one of them! After 5 cool minutes of ambient alt-metal, there's a funky turn into something different. But throughout the song, the vocals and lyrics are so divine, alongside the djenty heaviness almost as much as Deftones mixed with Tesseract and Haken. I'm telling you, those lyrics can really guide you through.

Mudvayne – Death Blooms (2000)

4.5/5. A legendary heavy intro starts this track that has a bit of an industrial aspect from Godflesh and Static-X. Ryan Martinie performs excellent bass here. This sh*t can be good as h*ll for the more experimental nu metal fans.

Atreyu – Untouchable (2021)

4/5. A good song to love for anyone who's into Atreyu and Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach).

Katatonia – Birds (2023)

4.5/5. Continuing the flow is this song from Katatonia's new album, restoring more of the straight heaviness of their early 2000s albums like Viva Emptiness, within the sinister atmosphere and urgent melody.

Buckethead – Soothsayer (2006)

4/5. This is such a beautiful and emotional long alt-rock/metal instrumental, with some soloing to marvel upon, especially at the 4-minute mark. Excellent! This can almost be consider this playlist's "Crusade".

Breaking Benjamin – Blood (2018)

4.5/5. If there's any song that can fit well with the soundtrack to the film Morbius, it would be this one. It's one of the f***ing heaviest tracks by this band, and one of my brother's favorite songs from one of his favorite bands.

Bloodsimple – What If I Lost It (2005)

5/5. Such as awesome underrated group this band is! A Cruel World is one of the best 2000s alt-metal albums I've heard. This song reminds me a bit of the aforementioned Mudvayne. Lead vocalist Tim Williams is also a founding member of metalcore band Vision of Disorder. Anyone who has watched the ESPN X-Games or played Need for Speed Most Wanted may be familiar with this track that reminds me of Godsmack in a Disturbed-like level of heaviness. Kyle Sanders (brother of Mastodon bassist Troy Sanders) would later join Hellyeah long after this band's split. I would really like more of Bloodsimple for alt-metal at its best.

Candiria – Down (2004)

4.5/5. Some listeners of this song might know it from Greg Hastings' Tournament Paintball. This one has the new millennium balance of heaviness and melody, all while declaring "I bow down to no one!" Its album shows the band's temporary move from the mathcore of The Dillinger Escape Plan to the heavy/alternative metal of Avenged Sevenfold and Clutch. It's gems like this that get me pumped up for the intense experience of a college course that I currently have. Candiria is one of the greatest mind-blowing hybrid bands out there! Though I can find better material from this band in their previous two albums. Too bad I'm nearly two decades late in finding this track. It's quite fun, despite not having their earlier intensity. It's, to me, much better than what I would find in Darwin's Waiting Room and Korn, and is as good as the better side of Linkin Park and Sevendust. They would've brought back the metalcore of The Process of Self Development if not for that van accident, but I'm glad they survived...

Parkway Drive – Glitch (2022)

4/5. The new Parkway Drive album's first single adds a bit of speed while in a mid-paced march through insomniac depression, alongside guitar and gang-style vocals to remind me of While She Sleeps.

Demon Hunter – Heaven Don’t Cry (2022)

4.5/5. This incredible highlight is worth being a radio single, mixing heaviness with melody. This can reach the mainstream without stripping down the sound as much as Songs of Death and Resurrection and instead elevating the writing quality.

Slipknot – The Heretic Anthem (2001)

4/5. Although Slipknot won't ever be a favorite band for me, this song kicks a** with impressive lyrics shouted by the talented Corey Taylor.

Disturbed – Won’t Back Down (2022)

3.5/5. This one's a kinda strong headbanger, bringing back elements of the band's first 3 albums, complete with some of the earlier "OW" and "get up".

Alice In Chains – Drone (2018)

3/5. Now here's something interesting, former Queensryche guitarist Chris DeGarmo performing acoustic guitar in this Alice in Chains song. There are longtime fans who think Alice in Chains isn't the same without the late Layne Staley. While I haven't listened to this band enough to agree, I can understand this song being a bit disappointing.

I Prevail – There’s Fear in Letting Go (2022)

3.5/5. I kinda like this song from another band that my brother loves, but it's a little weird like their Taylor Swift cover. With that said, holy f***, there are a few great surprises such as the extension of the chorus near the midway point.

Coaltar Of The Deepers – AMETHYST [REVENGE] (2021)

4/5. For any Japanese rock/metal fans who want some sweet energy without having to go into the thrash of Overkill, this is your answer, I guess. So poetic and versatile!

Twelve Foot Ninja – Oxygen (2016)

4.5/5. It's quite great to hear groovy prog-ish alt-metal without having cross too much into TOOL territory. There are great lyrics, but they can't beat the jazzy bridge in the middle. Mike Patton and the rest of Mr. Bungle would be pleased.

Love and Death – Down (2021)

4/5. A pretty great song with well-done singing from Brian "Head" Welch. This oughta motivate to live life with faith in your heart.

Within Temptation – The Reckoning (2019)

4.5/5. Despite having completed my move away from this band, I love how they've impressively enhanced their over 25-year career with cyber elements added to their symphonic/alternative metal sound. It's a great song to love and motivate your spirit.

In This Moment – Black Wedding (feat. Rob Halford) (2017)

5/5. Oh man, I need this played in my future wedding! This is some of the darkest alternative metal I've heard since the recent Motionless in White. Maria Brink has bad-a** vocal power, leveled up in this duet with Judas Priest's Rob Halford.

Halestorm – The Steeple (2022)

4.5/5. The second song I've heard from the new Halestorm album, and I have a feeling about this being their heaviest one yet. My brother listens to this band more than I do, and while you can assume that I've been living under a rock when it comes to hard rock/alt-metal, I have a lot to listen to in my heavier metal cave of solitude. Even without the fast speed from other metal bands that I enjoy, this is one you just gotta love. It really hits hard! Lzzy Hale has also guest appeared in songs from other bands like Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dream Theater, In This Moment, The Hu, and Evanescence. While I don't have my own church, I have my own community of like-minded metalheads, this website. Whether we like the same or different metal genres, we're all our own people.

Stuck Mojo – The Ward Is My Shepard (2000)

4/5. Rich Ward has done amazing guitar that has pleased fans of Stuck Mojo throughout their career. And thank greatness this is instrumental, because I'm not really up for a whole lot of rapping that the band usually has, and it's a great way to close this playlist.

February 2023

1. Godflesh - "Spite" (from Pure, 1992) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

2. Celldweller - "Into the Void - HARD BOX Remix" (from Into the Void (Remix Contest Compilation), 2022)

3. 3TEETH - "President X" (from Metawar, 2019)

4. Mnemic - "Tattoos" (from Mechanical Spin Phenomena, 2003) [submitted by Daniel]

5. Excessive Force - "Divebomb" (from Gentle Death, 1993) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Ghostemane - "Hydrochloride" (from ANTI-ICON, 2020)

7. Static-X - "Hollow (Project Regeneration) (from Project: Regeneration Vol. 1, 2020)

8. Ministry - "Disinformation" (from Moral Hygiene, 2021)

9. Northlane - "Talking Heads" (from Alien, 2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Motionless in White - "Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2" (from Graveyard Shift, 2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. 1000 Homo DJs - "Apathy" (from Supernaut, 1990)

12. Pitchshifter - "New Flesh P.S.I." (from Submit, 1992)

13. Gothminister - "Nachtzehrer" (from Empire of Dark Salvation, 2005) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Crossbreed - "Stem" (from Synthetic Division, 2001)

15. Strapping Young Lad - "Almost Again" (from The New Black, 2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Combichrist - "Hate Like Me" (from One Fire, 2019)

17. Omega Lithium - "Stigmata" (from Dreams in Formaline, 2009)

18. Nine Inch Nails - "March of the Pigs" (from The Downward Spiral, 1994)

19. Fear Factory - "Disobey - Disruptor Remix" (from Recoded, 2022)

20. Lindemann - "Skills in Pills" (from Skills in Pills, 2015)

21. Ludovico - "Burn Everything" (from Haunted People, 2022)

22. Deathstars - "Death Dies Hard" (from Night Electric Night, 2009)

23. ASP - "Krabat" (from Zaubererbruder: der Krabat-Liederzyklus, 2008)

24. The Mad Capsule Markets - "Island" (from OSC-DIS, 2001)

25. Author & Punisher - "Glorybox" (from Kruller, 2022)

26. Neurotech - "Through Hardships" (from Stigma, 2015)

27. Rammstein - "Adieu" (from Zeit, 2022)

February 2023

1. Lorna Shore - "Immortal" (from Immortal, 2020)

2. Cave In - "Until Your Heart Stops (Segue 2)" (from Until Your Heart Stops, 1998)

3. This Day Forward - "Sunfalls and Watershine" (from Kairos, 2002)

4. Drowningman - "Code Breaking Hearts" (from Rock and Roll Killing Machine, 2001)

5. All Shall Perish - "Never Ending War" (from Hate.Malice.Revenge, 2003)

6. Earth Crisis - "Broken Foundation" (from Gomorrah's Season Ends, 1996) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. Botch - "Transitions from Persona to Object" (from We Are the Romans, 1999) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. August Burns Red - "Bones" (from Guardians, 2020) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Issues - "COMA" (from Headspace, 2016)

10. Northlane - "Singularity" (from Singularity, 2013)

11. Rorschach - "Traditional" (from Protestant, 1993)

12. Crystal Lake - "Fabricated Refuge" (from The Voyages, 2020) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. The Red Chord - "Dreaming in Dog Years" (from Fused Together in Revolving Doors, 2002)

14. Downcast - "System" (from Downcast, 1991)

15. The Browning - "Standing on the Edge" (from Burn This World, 2011)

16. Candye♡Syrup - "Idol of Death (Burst Ver.)" (from iDOL Can Dye Sick Rock!!, 2018) [submitted by Daniel]

17. Annisokay - "Coma Blue" (from Arms, 2018)

18. Impending Doom - "Ravenous Disease" (from Death Will Reign, 2013)

19. Trenches - "Horizons" (from Reckoner, 2022)

20. Vatican - "Reverence" (from Ultra, 2022)

21. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "We Are the Storm" (from Miss Machine, 2004)

22. Dead to Fall - "Villainy and Virtue" (from Villainy and Virtue, 2004) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

23. All That Remains - "The Air That I Breathe" (from The Fall of Ideals, 2006)

24. Trivium - "Shattering the Skies Above" (from In Waves, 2011) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

25. Hatebreed - "Refuse/Resist" (from For the Lions, 2009) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Phinehas - "Dream Thief" (from The Fire Itself, 2021)

27. Sikth - "Philistine Philosophies" (from Opacities, 2015)

28. Kingdom of Giants - "The Ride" (from Passenger, 2020)

29. Living Sacrifice - "Despair" (from Ghost Thief, 2013)

This Angra album was a classic for me when I was still listening to power metal. I plan to revisit Temple of Shadows and see if it's worth another chance, so some listening and a review shall be done this month.

Ned Dickens.

That's quite awesome, Rex! I look forward to checking out that book.

And on that note, the next book I'll make is a spin-off to my main series, centered around the golden age of classic metal genres (the 80s).

An amazing highlight of oriental extreme progressive metal from Japan:

I decided to give that album some listening and a review to further push my progressive metal boundaries into more experimental and extreme territory. I would say this is kind of like the Eastern oriental equivalent to Enslaved's recent material. There's barely any weird avant-garde aspects as far as I can hear. So I agree with you here, Daniel, and will definitely give your Hall entry a YES vote.

The Swedish gothic-infused industrial/cyber metal masters are back with a new single from their upcoming comeback album. This is their new single "This Is"!

Katatonia has made a thrilling return to higher form in their new album Sky Void of Stars, proven by tracks such as this progressive opener:

That's OK. Thanks Daniel!

P.S. I see that this release is currently tagged with both the Atmospheric Sludge Metal & Post-Metal (conventional) subgenres in our database but I'd encourage members of The Infinite to consider down-voting Post-Metal as this release so clearly sits in the sludge end of the Post-Metal spectrum which makes the Post-Metal (conventional) tag redundant.

I've just done that, Daniel. I also noticed The Infinite missing from the release's clan lineup, can that be fixed please?

Gothic/industrial metal from Croatia. Think of this like Evanescence if they added more of the Synthesis-esque symphonics/electronics along with darker gothic aesthetics:

American trance-metalcore with a bit of Crossfaith worship:

Ben, please add the new Katatonia album Sky Void of Stars.

OK, thanks Daniel!

Ben, please add Stigmata (one of the earliest American metalcore bands, from Troy, New York, mixed with groove metal in some releases that would also qualify in The Pit).

The DragonForce "Ring of Fire" curse carries on into this Through Fire album with their atrocious attempt at covering an Ellie Goulding single:

A strong motivational hard rock/alt-metal anthem:

A sinister 9-minute industrial sludge metal attack, expanding on the percussion and screams until all fades to oblivion:

Raging sludge with lyrics describing the need to live in a hole and hide from outside society:

I just gave this album a listen to continue my test of strength in the experimental sludge realms, and indeed it's a noise-ridden industrial sludge arsenal, ready for the listener to make a stinging dark descent. Subtle keyboard passages give light to the pummeling darkness, and the noise influences have more in common with the mechanical industrial sound, though sometimes having a bit of the post-punk level of late Daughters. So this release's judgement entry will definitely receive a YES vote from me.

1. Gateway playlist - 4/5 (number of songs commented: ALL 20)

2. Infinite playlist - 4.5/5 (number of songs commented: 10)

3. Revolution playlist - 4.5/5 (number of songs commented: ALL 29)

4. Sphere playlist - 4/5 (number of songs commented: ALL 24)

So far, I've only commented on 10 tracks in the Infinite playlist, but for the other 3 of my own clans I've listened to the entire playlists! I'm grateful to Saxy and Daniel for their playlist works. I really dig what I've listened to in the Gateway and Infinite playlists made by Saxy, and I'm glad the Revolution and Sphere playlists made by me paid off. I recommend them to any fan of those respective genres and anyone who isn't into those genres but wants to get into a great start in enjoying them. Thanks, Daniel, for accepting these playlists, and good work all!

One of only a couple highlights from metal's entry into the hardcore subgenre Krishnacore:

I also agree. This album is really just doomy industrial metal, with slight bits of electronica and shoegaze. If this was drone metal, it would be even slower.

Ben, please add Through Fire.

Heavy raging metalcore that pretty much all fans of the genre can enjoy:

Daniel, seeing how much you've been enjoying some releases that mix metalcore with sludge metal (Admiral Angry, Knut, etc.), I don't think you'll have any problem checking out Trenches' fantastic comeback album Reckoner.

Update on my list:

1. Botch - We Are The Romans (1999)

2. Converge - You Fail Me (2004)

3. Every Time I Die - Radical (2021)

4. Gaza - I Don’t Care Where I Go When I Die (2006)

5. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity (1999)

6. Deadguy - Fixation on a Coworker (1995)

7. Coalesce - Give Them Rope (1997)

8. Candiria - Beyond Reasonable Doubt (1997)

9. Sikth - How May I Help You? (2002)

10. Knut - Challenger (2002)

Glad you enjoy it, Daniel! There's already a Judgement entry for this album so you can vote here: https://metal.academy/hall/200

"I'll be back..."

Amazing inspiring lyrics from one of the earliest Christian metal/hardcore bands besides Zao:

I also decide to take a small sneak peek at Strongarm's other album Atonement, and this song has some metalcore potential as well. I might give the rest of the album a listen if it becomes metal enough to quality for this site.

Industrial drone doom meets shoegaze-ish rock. Sounds weird but I love it!