Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

A chaotic groove metal opener to Cypecore's comeback EP, with vocals sounding like melodeath-ish metalcore gone Disturbed:

Along with the Swedish pioneers of djent:

Meshuggah

1. I (EP)

2. Catch Thirtythree

3. Destroy Erase Improve

4. Chaosphere

5. Nothing

6. Koloss

7. The Violent Sleep of Reason

8. None (EP)

9. ObZen

10. Immutable

11. Contradictions Collapse

12. Meshuggah (EP)

In Flames was really making a gradual descent in quality from the melodeath glory of the 90s to the alt-metal atrocity of the 2010s, around twice as many albums as the ones from each of the bands I've listed above. That's part of what made me gave up on listening to this band a few years ago, though they made a slightly better comeback to the in-between of the 2000s with their new album Foregone in 2023.

A playlist I've made based on the above list: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5LTu94tw97MMAlLfVGI5sJ

Here are my top 20 favorite tracks from melodic metalcore band All That Remains:

1. Two Weeks - Overcome (2008)

2. This Calling - The Fall of Ideals (2006)

3. The Last Time - ...For We Are Many (2010)

4. Blood & Stone - Antifragile (2025)

5. Chiron - Overcome (2008)

6. Divine - Antifragile (2025)

7. Not Alone - The Fall of Ideals (2006)

8. Madness - Madness (2017)

9. Victory Lap - The Order of Things (2015)

10. Stand Up - A War You Can Not Win (2012)

11. Behind Silence and Solitude - Behind Silence and Solitude (2002)

12. And Death in My Arms - This Darkened Heart (2004)

13. The Weak Willed - The Fall of Ideals (2006)

14. Focus Shall Not Fail - This Darkened Heart (2004)

15. A War You Can Not Win - A War You Can Not Win (2012)

16. Safe House - Madness (2017)

17. ...For We Are Many - ...For We Are Many (2010)

18. Victim of the New Disease - Victim of the New Disease (2018)

19. Tru-Kvlt-Metal - The Order of Things (2015)

20. Everything's Wrong - Victim of the New Disease (2018)

Nice lists, Rex! Now how about these Canadian forerunners of thrashy progressive metal:

Voivod

1. Dimension Hatross

2. Nothingface

3. Killing Technology

4. The Wake

5. Target Earth

6. Rrroooaaarrr

7. Synchro Anarchy

8. Morgoth Tales (re-recording album)

9. Angel Rat

10. The Outer Limits

11. War and Pain

12. Infini

13. Katorz

14. Voivod

15. Negatron

16. Phobos

Cool lists, guys! Death is known as not just the fathers of death metal, but also one of the technical death metal Big 4. Also in that Big 4 are the Dutch leaders of that death metal subgenre:

Pestilence

1. Spheres

2. Testimony of the Ancients

3. Exitivm

4. Consuming Impulse

5. Hadeon

6. Obsideo

7. Doctrine

8. Resurrection Macabre

9. Malleus Maleficarum

10. Levels of Perception (re-recording album)

The epic emotional closing track of All That Remains' brand-new masterpiece album is probably the best song they've done in a long time:

I was thinking about which clan to add this band known as the pioneering forces of post-sludge but have since been inactive due to a disgraced band member, but ultimately decided to do it here in The Fallen:

Neurosis

1. The Eye of Every Storm

2. Through Silver in Blood

3. A Sun That Never Sets

4. Times of Grace

5. Given to the Rising

6. Enemy of the Sun

7. Honor Found in Decay

8. Neurosis & Jarboe

9. Souls at Zero

10. Fires Within Fires

11. The Word as Law

12. Pain of Mind

A brand-new single of intense violin-infused metalcore by Imminence:

A Spotify playlist I've made based on my Mechina favorite tracks list: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/46x2HxpNaUfLUQrisTSXCn

After my Mechina album reviewing marathon, I thought I would share my top 20 favorite tracks from that band:

1. The Hyperion Threnody - Acheron (2015)

2. Elephtheria - Empyrean (2013)

3. Gene Heresy - Telesterion (2019)

4. Anagenesis - Progenitor (2016)

5. Bellum Interruptum - Bellum Interruptum (2025)

6. On the Wings of Vecterra - Bellum Interruptum (2025)

7. The Assembly of Tyrants - The Assembly of Tyrants (2005)

8. Freedom Foregone - Siege (2021)

9. Reclamation of Mortal Nature - Tyrannical Resurrection (2007)

10. The Iron Law - Conqueror (2011)

11. Xenon - Xenon (2014)

12. Unearthing the Daedalian Ancient - As Embers Turn to Dust (2017)

13. When Virtue Meets Steel - Venator (2022)

14. The Horizon Effect - Progenitor (2016)

15. Asterion - Empyrean (2013)

16. Siege - Siege (2021)

17. Tartarus - Xenon (2014)

18. Venator - Venator (2022)

19. The Synesthesia Signal - As Embers Turn to Dust (2017)

20. The Grand Hunt - Cenotaph (2023)

Honorable mentions (non-album singles):

1. To Coexist Is to Surrender (2014)

2. Blessings Upon the Field Where Blades Will Flood (2023)

3. The World We Lost (2015)

4. Cepheus (2013)

5. Andromeda (2011)

6. The World We Saved (2024)

The re-recording of the title track of Mechina's debut has a proper sense of closure with its extended ending and should've been the finale of the Tyrannical Resurrection EP:

No full review from me for this Mechina EP as I generally don't review albums that are just demos or re-recordings of songs from a single album, whether all or some tracks. Two years after the band's debut The Assembly of Tyrants, they decided to re-record 5 of the songs from that album for this EP Tyrannical Resurrection. Basically everything except the death metal demo tracks, the interludes, and the "Clash" remix. The instrumentation and vocals are all slightly improved compared to their debut, which a much less "demo" quality". The songs here are also some of my favorite tracks from the debut. So why am I rating this EP 4 stars as opposed to 4.5 stars for the debut? Simply because it's not the entire album, and it's only two years after the debut. I'd love to hear the whole Assembly of Tyrants album re-recorded for its 20th anniversary, with Mel Rose singing the cleans, including the death metal demo tracks and the interludes, but minus the "Clash" remix. It was actually Sonny who brought up that idea when he reviewed the debut last week. Thanks for that, Sonny! Also it would be better if "Shattered Cry" was put in the beginning of the EP instead of the end, because the extended ending of "The Assembly of Tyrants" has a more proper sense of closure. Fingers crossed for that 20th anniversary full-album re-recording to be made this year....

4/5

The band's attempt at experimenting with major-key brightness make this sh*tter the worst they've done in 10 years, and it fits better in a Cynic/Devin Townsend album:

Nothing but pure grand djenty industrial metal in this instrumental of straight-on riffing fury:

Bombastic symphonics, kick-A rhythm, and glorious vocals reign again in this grand highlight:

An aggressive way to head out that can pulverize those earlier melodic tracks, complete with blast-beats, crushing riffs, and the return of growls:

Greater impact is added to this highlight, flowing smoothly through heaviness and melody:

Glad you're all having fun ranking Metallica albums, but how about this Canadian thrash band with a long discography that I think is consistent through and through:

Annihilator

1. Metal (including Metal II re-recording)

2. Alice in Hell

3. Waking the Fury

4. Never, Neverland

5. Criteria for a Black Widow

6. Schizo Deluxe

7. Carnival Diablos

8. Annihilator

9. Ballistic, Sadistic

10. Refresh the Demon

11. Feast

12. For the Demented

13. All for You

14. King of the Kill

15. Suicide Society

16. Remains

17. Set the World on Fire

The best of two cyber metal worlds! We need a Mechina remix next.

Cool ranking lists, guys! Now for my turn... Here's how I would rank all the albums from each of my never forgotten power metal heroes whom I'll never let go of:

DragonForce

1. Inhuman Rampage

2. Valley of the Damned

3. Extreme Power Metal

4. Reaching Into Infinity

5. Killer Elite (compilation)

6. Warp Speed Warriors

7. Ultra Beatdown

8. Sonic Firestorm

9. The Power Within

10. Maximum Overload

Kamelot

1. Epica

2. The Black Halo

3. Karma

4. The Fourth Legacy

5. The Awakening

6. Silverthorn

7. Ghost Opera

8. Siege Perilous

9. The Shadow Theory

10. Haven

11. Poetry for the Poisoned

12. Dominion

13. Eternity

I also plan to do the same thing with Mechina once I finish my reviewing journey for that band's discography and decide whether to do it here or in The Sphere.

Another one of the best tracks in Mechina's new era, with grand symphonics in the instrumentation:

This grand over 10-minute epic might just surpass "Anagenesis" as one of the greatest epics Mechina has ever done:

Another strong climatic composition of darkness and technicality:

An absolutely stunning standout for the more melodic side of Mechina, with more of those serene vocals by Mel Rose:

A symphonic cyber metal epic of absolute futuristic glory:

The first ever song I've heard from Mechina a couple years ago, and a true cosmic metal symphony:

Sometimes I care about album covers as much as I care about music. I agree that the cover art should fit well with the music, like fantasy for The Guardians or sci-fi for The Infinite and The Sphere. Mechina's cover artworks from Progenitor onwards are as epic as the music itself. The presence of the band's logo and album title are definitely important so people who and what they're listening to. I also don't think obscene real-life images belong in album covers, such as an actual decapitated head (Brujeria's Matando Gueros), suicide (Mayhem's Dawn of the Black Hearts), or a nude underage girl (Scorpions' Virgin Killer). But real or fictional, I still struggle with graphic violence/nudity/blasphemy in album covers, which is why I don't listen to the more brutal death metal bands like Cannibal Corpse or the more satanic black metal bands out there, and why it's hard for me to take the first 3 Type O Negative albums seriously. And if one of those albums has a clean cover, I would use it when discussing the album in threads.

Another thing to point out is the rise of AI-produced cover arts. I understand the hate going on towards that aspect from listeners pointing out all the bad ethics of AI art and being like "If you put all your effort in creating your music, should you do the same for your art instead of relying on this sloppy inhuman potentially copyright-infringing sh*t?" or "Your artwork is AI, I bet your music is too!" In response to the latter statement, not always. If you listen to the music before seeing the artwork, at least you know the band is still human, playing their instruments naturally. Sadly, a lot of people seem to judge a book by its cover and connect art to artist in these less horiffic situations. Personally, if an album by a long-running band has an AI cover art, that's fine with me, just as long as it looks good and they don't do it too often. And I can still accept the ongoing evolution of technology.

Update due to me having to nominate a last-minute Infinite feature release in Saxy's place (I also swapped Saxy and Xephyr's places in The Infinite for March and April to make March a little more fair, if that's OK):

THE FALLEN: SONNY, Vinny

THE GATEWAY: SAXY, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: XEPHYR, Karl

THE HORDE: SONNY, Karl, Vinny

THE INFINITE: SAXY, Xephyr, Andi

THE NORTH: XEPHYR, Sonny, Karl

THE PIT: VINNY, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI

THE SPHERE: ANDI

REMINDER: Please submit your feature releases to Ben before the end of the month and have your feature releases' threads ready to be posted in the first one or two days of next month. I can't always do these last-minute nominations and Ben isn't able to chase you down. So if you miss the deadline, you'll lose your slot.

Here's my review summary:

Catch Thirty-Three is a concept album where all songs flow seamlessly together like an epic suite, similar to some Between the Buried and Me albums. A complete trek of a journey from start to finish, that you would want to do all over again. It's a djent journey not to be missed, with the usual downtuned guitars, bellowed vocals, and complex drumming (though it's programmed unlike the other albums). Lyrics, riffs, ambience, and seamless suite sections, all you can hear in this monstrous album. One word: brilliant!

5/5

Recommended tracks: The whole album, or if you just want separate tracks - "The Paradoxical Spiral", "Entrapment", "Mind’s Mirrors", "In Death" (both parts), "Shed", "Sum"

For fans of: Between the Buried and Me (for the "seamless album suite" aspect), Sikth, Textures

Sure, Vinny. Here's the updated roster for March, with your name added to The Fallen for April:

THE FALLEN: SONNY, Vinny

THE GATEWAY: SAXY, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: XEPHYR, Karl

THE HORDE: SONNY, Karl, Vinny

THE INFINITE: ANDI, Xephyr, Saxy

THE NORTH: XEPHYR, Sonny, Karl

THE PIT: VINNY, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI

THE SPHERE: ANDI

Futuristic industrial rock/metal by Rabbit Junk:

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

The Amenta - "Obliterate’s Prayer" (5:47) from Flesh is Heir (2013)

Blue Stahli - "Gravity" (4:41) from Obsidian (2021)

Circle of Dust - "Telltale Crime" (4:18) from Brainchild (1994)

Deathstars - "The Last Ammunition" (4:07) from Termination Bliss (2006)

Fear Factory - "Edgecrusher" (3:39) from Obsolete (1998)

Turmion Kätilöt - "Pirun Nyrkki" (3:48) from Pirun Nyrkki (2006)

Total length: 26:20

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

Carnifex - "No Light Shall Save Us" (4:47) from World War X (2019)

Eighteen Visions - "A Short Walk Down a Long Hallway" (4:17) from Vanity (2002)

Falling in Reverse - "Raised by Wolves" (3:25) from The Drug in Me Is You (2011)

Ice Nine Kills - "Dead is the New Black" (4:29) from The Burning (2007)

Parkway Drive - "It's Hard to Speak Without a Tongue" (4:14) from Killing with a Smile (2005)

Shadow of Intent - "The Return" (4:49) from Reclaimer (2017)

Underoath - "Breathing in a New Mentality" (2:37) from Lost in the Sound of Separation (2008)

Total length: 28:38

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

Haken - "The Architect" (15:40) from Affinity (2016)

Novembre - "Marea (Pt. 1, 2, 3)" (11:59) from Dreams d'azur (2002)

Total length: 27:39

Here are my submissions for the March Gateway playlist:

Any Given Sin - "Nearer Our God to Thee" (4:30) from Forbidden (2015)

Avenged Sevenfold - "Afterlife" (5:53) from Avenged Sevenfold (2007)

Limp Bizkit - "Shotgun" (4:32) from Gold Cobra (2011)

Metallica - "Some Kind of Monster" (8:25) from St. Anger (2003)

Nothing More - "Fade In / Fade Out" (6:05) from The Stories We Tell Ourselves (2017)

Total length: 29:25

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

The Mad Capsule Markets - "INTRODUCTION 010" from 010 (2001)

4.5/5. Let's start with this intro that's good music for the industrial part of my metal heart.

Neurotech - "The Cyber Waltz" from The Decipher Volumes (2013)

5/5. This highlight greatly picks up where Blue Screen Planet left off. It's a true cyber metal anthem, with everything you can ask for from the symphonics, synths, electronics, pianos, guitars, drums, beats, and vocals. The perfect memorable beginning of this spacey journey, and done much better than the heavier first part of Blue Screen Planet.

Peace, Love & Pitbulls - "Das neue konzept" from Red Sonic Underwear (1994)

4.5/5. An excellent concept, though not really a concept track or concept album.

PAIN - "Not for Sale" from I Am (2024)

5/5. One of the best songs from the new album of this project founded by this f***ing legend that is Peter Tägtgren. This makes me feel like punching through glass even though I shouldn't. The Neurotech-ish keyboards in the bridge midway through sound epic, in contrast to the comedic lyrics.

Pitchshifter - "Product Placement" from Infotainment? (1996)

4.5/5. Quite amazing despite the band's transition to a more electronic sound.

Combichrist - "Guns at Last Dawn" from One Fire (2019)

4/5. An underrated heavy song featuring Fear Factory then-vocalist Burton C. Bell.

Rabbit Junk - "Bits and Razors" from Bits and Razors (2020)

4.5/5. With this much electronic fire, it would be interesting if this song ends up on Beat Saber. This is basically synth-fueled industrial metalcore that really levels up after the first minute. I might try singing/screaming along to this tune.

Mechina - "Freedom Foregone" from Siege (2021)

5/5. This 11 and a half minute epic is the band's longest song to be part of an album and not released as a separate single. Tragedy and triumph collide with each other, alongside more of the heavy instrumentation and emotional singing. Then after the final chorus, the last bit of clean guitar and violin melancholy close this chapter of the Mechina saga. But this playlist is far from over...

Samael - "In the Deep" from Lux Mundi (2011)

4.5/5. Can I get a "hail yeah" for this heavy song?!

Ludovico Technique - "Haunted" from Haunted People (2022)

4/5. From just the first 20 seconds, you know haunting this song is gonna get, as if it's sung by a vampire living in loneliness and immortality.

The Amenta - "Twined Towers" from Revelator (2021)

4.5/5. This one is The Amenta's longest song at 8 minutes and might remind some of a more brutal take on Ministry's mid-90s material.

Bad Omens, WARGASM (UK) - "Hedonist (Recharged)" from Concrete Jungle (The OST) (2024)

5/5. Wargasm strikes on in this energetic highlight packed with synths as heavy as the guitars. I've already heard of Wargasm via their remixes with Enter Shikari and Crossfaith. Milkie Way's vocals are more hyper than a sugar-buzzed cheerleader, and that's what I like there!

Circle of Dust - "Chasm" from Disengage (1998)

4.5/5. Disengage and Circle of Dust's other albums are worth giving lots of praise to.

AP2 - "The Red Shirt Conspiracy" from Suspension of Disbelief (2000)

5/5. This highlight actually sounds like an industrial take on the earlier thrash of Voivod and Sabbat with guest vocals by Joel Timothy Bell.

Celldweller - "One Good Reason" from Celldweller (2003)

4.5/5. Anyone who has played Need for Speed Most Wanted can recognize this song's instrumental version, but the original's killer too.

Acumen Nation - "Pistol Whip Me Back Into Your Arms" from Strike 4 (2000)

4/5. This one's great, but a little too rock-ish. "Pistol whip me back into your ARMS!!!!"

Blacklodge - "Culto Al Sol - Solarkult" from Machination (2012)

3.5/5. Heavy hellfire in this one, but maybe a bit too black metal-ish here.

Skrew - "Universal Immolation" from Universal Immolation (2014)

3/5. Skrew reformed with heavier deathly guitars and vocals while maintaining the samples and industrial elements. Still not feeling it much though.

Hint - "In Tenebris" from 100% White Puzzle (1995)

2.5/5. Wow, this is just a dark jazz interlude. Not sure at all while I put it there besides the fact that it's an interlude.

Megaherz - "Rock Me Amadeus" from Kopfschuss (1998)

3/5. Cool cover of that Falco hit, though it's still Neue Deutsche Härte.

Subway to Sally - "So Rot MMXXI" from Himmelfahrt (2023)

3.5/5. Slightly better and more beautiful, a good NDH take on a ballad from their earlier medieval folk era.

Seth Ect - "Orison II" from Godspeak (2011)

4/5. Great sequel to a Seth Ect track from an earlier playlist.

KMFDM - "Sucks" from Angst (1993)

4.5/5. You just gotta love this band's humor mixed with heavy riffing and industrial rock/metal.

Godflesh - "Tiny Tears" from Streetcleaner (1989)

5/5. And now, here we are at the final leg of this playlist, starting with my favorite song of that EP/side of Godflesh's debut Streetcleaner.

Static-X - "Invincible" from Shadow Zone (2003)

4.5/5. RIP Wayne Static. His music will remain invincible.

Motionless in White - "Somebody Told Me" from Disguise (2019, 2021 special edition)

5/5. I love this song, probably the best ever rendition of that Killers hit! Can be heard in the 2021 special edition of Disguise.

Sybreed - "Destruction and Bliss" from God is an Automaton (2012)

5/5. The 10-minute finale of its original album and this playlist is the best track here. It starts djenty as heavy rhythms fill the atmosphere. The best part is the kick-A solo by Travis Montgomery of Threat Signal. The perfect farewell from Sybreed!

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any industrial metal fan and anyone who isn't into industrial metal but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Any Given Day - "My Doom" from Everlasting (2016)

4.5/5. Let's start off with some melodic metalcore the way it's meant to be done, with strong clean vocals, just like Killswitch Engage.

Bleed from Within - "In Place of Your Halo" from In Place of Your Halo (2024)

5/5. And here's more of that, but more brutal, with some eerie bagpipes throughout the last minute.

Silent Planet - "Mindframe" from Mindframe (2024)

4.5/5. Let's drop that cyberpunk metalcore beat!

Resolve - "Exposed" from Reverie (2017)

4/5. There's a lot more music to explore, and sometimes you can get them from a Spotify recommendation or a YouTube ad. The chorus is really good here. It's a true banger than can barely disappoint! This band and Landmvrks have shaped up the French modern metalcore scene. The heavy structure really stands out.

Fit for a King - "Dead Memory (feat. Jake Luhrs)" from Deathgrip (2016)

4.5/5. I'm glad to give Fit for a King a chance the first time I listened to that band two years ago. The blend of heavy verses and clean choruses has quite an As I Lay Dying/Demon Hunter vibe. The guest vocals by Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red give the song great impact, almost as much as the other FFAK albums Creation/Destruction. Lots of metalcore emotion to love! "Would you even notice if my world was falling apart? Would you even care if my heart stopped beating?"

Hollow Front - "Hold Me Down" from Hold Me Down (2024)

4/5. F***ing talented drumming in this one! This band knows how to make kick-A songs that can stay fresh.

Memphis May Fire - "Sleepless Nights" from Unconditional (2014)

4.5/5. The lyrics here are quite relatable for anyone in sleepless anxiety.

Imminence - "86" from The Reclamation of I (2024)

5/5. With hammer-fists and drum sticks, Peter Hanstrom blasts through this highlight alongside talented screams and singing of Eddie Berg (also the violinist) that in turn go well with dissonant riffs and melodies. The lyrics are so beautiful and fit greatly even when screamed.

Demon Hunter - "Hell Don't Need Me" from Extremist (2014)

4.5/5. A slower and sludgier track that's quite interesting.

Trivium - "To the Rats" from The Crusade (2006)

4/5. One of only a couple tracks from The Crusade to qualify for The Revolution, this one balls out some chaotic thrashy metalcore while having a more positive chorus.

Still Remains - "The Worst is Yet to Come" from Of Love and Lunacy (2005)

4.5/5. An amazing classic example of melodic metalcore! "Is this embedded status permanent?!?"

Haste the Day - "Servant Ties" from Pressure the Hinges (2007)

5/5. One of the f***ing best songs by Haste the Day! I love the riffing and the vocals, even the cleans. The bridge at over the two minute mark is quite epic, as is the soloing 45 seconds later, one of the most awesome guitar solos in melodic metalcore.

Wage War - "Gravity" from Deadweight (2017)

4.5/5. The drop C-tuned melodic metalcore continues in a slower pace. Far better than the similar-sounding similarly-titled Bullet for My Valentine song!

Annisokay - "Never Enough" from Never Enough (2024)

4/5. Annisokay fans would certainly dig this 5 days early Christmas gift.

Bury Tomorrow - "Boltcutter" from The Seventh Sun (2023)

4.5/5. Another insane metalcore song to take your breath away.

Blessthefall, Alpha Wolf - "DRAG ME UNDER" from DRAG ME UNDER (2024)

5/5. Anyone else enjoy two bands in one song?! I certainly approve of this blessing!

The Browning - "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" from Blue (Da Ba Dee) (2025)

4.5/5. How about some Blue to go with that Browning? An epic cover, though I prefer the Fleshgod Apocalypse cover slightly more.

Eighteen Visions - "Fake Leather Jacket" from XVIII (2017)

5/5. This one turns things around as another highlight, and the strongest one here too. There are more of the vengeful screams by Hart, "LIAR!!!! SADIST!!! CORPORATE!!! RAPIST!!!" The heavy verses and anthemic choruses are the best of what the album has in store.

Rolo Tomassi - "The Hollow Hour" from Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It (2018)

5/5. A f***ing beautiful mathcore epic! They can go as progressive as Gojira with a bit of black metal in the heavier sections. Such an awesome banger!

Daughters - "Hyperventilationsystem" from Hell Songs (2006)

4.5/5. "Love is a disgusting thing", according to the chant in this hyper track that would keep you away from sleeping.

Knut - "Bound" from Leftovers (1997)

4/5. Another heavy mathcore track. RIP Didier Séverin

The Sleeper - "Paradigm" from Aurora (2013)

3.5/5. Quite brutal, but a little too much for a djenty metalcore track.

Aviana - "DELIRIUM" from DELIRIUM (2024)

4/5. A heavy ripped banger for a two-minute track! There's even a bit of hardstyle 40 seconds in.

Graphic Nature - "N.F.A." from Who Are You When No One Is Watching? (2024)

4.5/5. The hardcore heaviness shines the best in this short track. Enough said!

Memory of a Melody - "'Til Death Do Us Part" from Things That Make You Scream (2011)

4/5. What's not to love besides my brother enjoying this song? And why not? It's like if Breaking Benjamin leveled up the metalcore elements in their alt-rock/metal.

Convictions - "Eros" from I Am Nothing (2012)

4.5/5. This song is also excellent, though this Convictions EP is their only one with lead vocalist Dan Gardner. That's a shame because I love his screams here. It might remind some of Dream on Dreamer, especially the more hardcore yet clean singing at the two and a half minute mark.

Kingdom of Giants - "Smoke" from Bleeding Star (2024)

4/5. The electronic intro starts the song off interesting, but it gets heavier as it progresses, especially halfway through. Seems like we still have some cyberpunk metalcore left after that Silent Planet track. Northlane, Architects, and Bad Omens influences unite!

Filth - "Idle Hands" from The Burden of Isolation (2018)

4.5/5. Nothing but filthy brutal deathcore in this one.

A Wake in Providence - "Mournful Benediction (feat. Ben Duerr)" from I Write To You, My Darling Decay (2024)

5/5. This one keeps up the perfect balance this band has between melody and heaviness. Drum blasts, symphonic keys, and a guest vocal appearance by Shadow of Intent's Ben Duerr make the song guaranteed to be an eternal epic deathcore hit.

Make Them Suffer - "Weeping Wastelands" from Neverbloom (2012)

4.5/5. This one was re-recorded from their brutal demo EP Lord of Woe, and is the band's longest song at nearly 7 minutes. It's not as special as those other two epics in its original album (the title track and "Maelstrom"), but it's still listenable by any means.

Shadow of Intent - "Malediction" from Melancholy (2019)

5/5. The playlist doesn't end there though, making way for this monumental gem, one of the best I've heard from this band and genre. I really am torn between whether this is the perfect ending for its original album or that long instrumental epic before it.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any metalcore fan and anyone who isn't into metalcore but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Angra – The Bottom of My Soul (2018)

4.5/5. An amazing song to start with, with the emotional vocals of guitarist Rafael Bittencourt. The instrumentation is quite beautiful too! The lyrics are relatable for battling against anxiety and depression. Rafael is also good at his guitarwork, so is Marcelo Barbosa with his passionate soloing at the 3-minute mark. Rafael's vocals sounds like a mix of Devin Townsend and Chris Cornell, in contrast to the higher power metal singing of Fabio Lione in all the other tracks in the album. Either way, f***ing magical! Despite the more Creed-ish motive for this song, the melody from Rebirth still shines, along with those lyrics.

Chaos Divine – Hazard (2024)

5/5. I actually love this cover more than the one for Toto's "Africa", and it's more metal too. This epic cover should get on the radio more than the original.

Haken – A Cell Divides (2018)

4.5/5. Sick chills from this one! While the vocals by Ross Jennings sound great here, they should've brought in Leprous' Einar Solberg for some growls like in "The Architect".

Imperial Triumphant – Lexington Delirium (feat. Tomas Haake) (2025)

4/5. Finally we get to hear some cool extreme avant-prog metal, with spoken vocals by Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake.

Jinjer – Green Serpent (2024)

4.5/5. Jinjer's progressive sound slithers through in this single from their new album Duel.

Joviac – Shine (2024)

4/5. Nice positive modern progressive metal/rock right here.

Monolithe – Unveiling the Illusion (2024)

4.5/5. This one unleashes guitar aggression in contrast with the string tranquility. Truly one of the greatest standouts here!

Nevermore – No More Will (1999)

4/5. "The velvet sleep is conviction only fools know", "These tears of dust are the tears from one who knows why", "The voice that stills the pain, I am the lover gone insane"... Some of the most emotional lyrics I've heard from Nevermore! And I love the riffing at the one and a half minute mark. RIP Warrel Dane...

Protest the Hero – Soliloquy (2020)

4.5/5. This one springs into hyperactive action with killer blast beats alongside a good lyrical concept. The instrumental wizardry keeps you in the flowing stream.

Scale the Summit – Goddess Gate (2017)

5/5. Fantastic soloing by Nick Johnston and Scar Symmetry guitarist Per Nilsson!

Sepultura – The Pentagram (2020)

4.5/5. Another progressive instrumental that's one h*ll of a thrashy journey that can be considered the Quadra Crusade.

SikTh – Weaves of Woe (2017)

5/5. Let's stop here with this awesome hyperactive highlight that reminds me of Protest the Hero's Kezia.

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Bring Me The Horizon – YOUtopia (2024)

5/5. The beginning of Bring Me the Horizon's second Post Human installment is so crazy yet you can soar through the clouds. Love it!

The Devil Wears Prada – Chemical (2019)

4.5/5. F***ing amazing greatness from this band!

Falling in Reverse – Zombified (2024)

5/5. This highlight is a total anthem of intense energy, standing against the cancel culture Ronnie was suffering in. Love that one!

Gemini Syndrome – Remember We Die (2016)

4.5/5. So bad-a** and filled with amazing fire! "Remember we die, but until we arrive, don't let go, just let the light shine from your soul before we run out of time..."

Lacuna Coil – In The Mean Time (feat. Ash Costello) (2024)

4/5. Lacuna Coil was one of the first gothic metal bands I started listened to. Well, at least their first 3 albums are gothic metal, now the band is more like gothic-ish alt-metal. I like hearing the guest vocals by Ash Costello to break up the repetition.

Nik Nocturnal, Archie Wilson – Undisturbed (2024)

4.5/5. "Get off your phones, get off your computers, and say these magic words with me.... SHA-KA-KA-KOW!!!"

Papercut – Somber Literature (2023)

4/5. "'Cause I'm paranoid, looking over my head..." Oh wait, it's not that song. Some cool nu metalcore from Hartford, Connecticut!

The Plot in You – Left Behind (2024)

4.5/5. I love the music and lyrics in this one. So relatable!

Seven Hours After Violet – Go! (2024)

4/5. Finally we really go hard in this f***ing insane track. Lots of speed and destruction from the music and vocals, with a fun anthemic chorus.

February 2025

1. The Mad Capsule Markets - "INTRODUCTION 010" from 010 (2001)

2. Neurotech - "The Cyber Waltz" from The Decipher Volumes (2013)

3. Peace, Love & Pitbulls - "Das neue konzept" from Red Sonic Underwear (1994)

4. PAIN - "Not for Sale" from I Am (2024)

5. Pitchshifter - "Product Placement" from Infotainment? (1996)

6. Combichrist - "Guns at Last Dawn" from One Fire (2019)

7. Rabbit Junk - "Bits and Razors" from Bits and Razors (2020)

8. Mechina - "Freedom Foregone" from Siege (2021)

9. Samael - "In the Deep" from Lux Mundi (2011)

10. Ludovico Technique - "Haunted" from Haunted People (2022)

11. The Amenta - "Twined Towers" from Revelator (2021) [submitted by Daniel]

12. Bad Omens, WARGASM (UK) - "Hedonist (Recharged)" from Concrete Jungle (The OST) (2024) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

13. Circle of Dust - "Chasm" from Disengage (1998)

14. AP2 - "The Red Shirt Conspiracy" from Suspension of Disbelief (2000) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Celldweller - "One Good Reason" from Celldweller (2003) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Acumen Nation - "Pistol Whip Me Back Into Your Arms" from Strike 4 (2000)

17. Blacklodge - "Culto Al Sol - Solarkult" from Machination (2012)

18. Skrew - "Universal Immolation" from Universal Immolation (2014)

19. Hint - "In Tenebris" from 100% White Puzzle (1995)

20. Megaherz - "Rock Me Amadeus" from Kopfschuss (1998)

21. Subway to Sally - "So Rot MMXXI" from Himmelfahrt (2023)

22. Seth Ect - "Orison II" from Godspeak (2011)

23. KMFDM - "Sucks" from Angst (1993)

24. Godflesh - "Tiny Tears" from Streetcleaner (1989) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

25. Static-X - "Invincible" from Shadow Zone (2003)

26. Motionless in White - "Somebody Told Me" from Disguise (2019, 2021 special edition) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

27. Sybreed - "Destruction and Bliss" from God is an Automaton (2012) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

February 2025

1. Any Given Day - "My Doom" from Everlasting (2016)

2. Bleed from Within - "In Place of Your Halo" from In Place of Your Halo (2024)

3. Silent Planet - "Mindframe" from Mindframe (2024)

4. Resolve - "Exposed" from Reverie (2017)

5. Fit for a King - "Dead Memory (feat. Jake Luhrs)" from Deathgrip (2016) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

6. Hollow Front - "Hold Me Down" from Hold Me Down (2024)

7. Memphis May Fire - "Sleepless Nights" from Unconditional (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Imminence - "86" from The Reclamation of I (2024)

9. Demon Hunter - "Hell Don't Need Me" from Extremist (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Trivium - "To the Rats" from The Crusade (2006)

11. Still Remains - "The Worst is Yet to Come" from Of Love and Lunacy (2005)

12. Haste the Day - "Servant Ties" from Pressure the Hinges (2007)

13. Wage War - "Gravity" from Deadweight (2017)

14. Annisokay - "Never Enough" from Never Enough (2024)

15. Bury Tomorrow - "Boltcutter" from The Seventh Sun (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Blessthefall, Alpha Wolf - "DRAG ME UNDER" from DRAG ME UNDER (2024)

17. The Browning - "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" from Blue (Da Ba Dee) (2025)

18. Eighteen Visions - "Fake Leather Jacket" from XVIII (2017) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Rolo Tomassi - "The Hollow Hour" from Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It (2018)

20. Daughters - "Hyperventilationsystem" from Hell Songs (2006) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

21. Knut - "Bound" from Leftovers (1997)

22. The Sleeper - "Paradigm" from Aurora (2013)

23. Aviana - "DELIRIUM" from DELIRIUM (2024)

24. Graphic Nature - "N.F.A." from Who Are You When No One Is Watching? (2024)

25. Memory of a Melody - "'Til Death Do Us Part" from Things That Make You Scream (2011)

26. Convictions - "Eros" from I Am Nothing (2012)

27. Kingdom of Giants - "Smoke" from Bleeding Star (2024)

28. Filth - "Idle Hands" from The Burden of Isolation (2018)

29. A Wake in Providence - "Mournful Benediction (feat. Ben Duerr)" from I Write To You, My Darling Decay (2024)

30. Make Them Suffer - "Weeping Wastelands" from Neverbloom (2012)

31. Shadow of Intent - "Malediction" from Melancholy (2019) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

Here's my review summary:

The debut album from this sludgy industrial metal supergroup doesn't reach the perfection of Greymachine, but it still reaches a solid level of greatness. You can practically hear what the members have in store from their respective bands including apocalyptic heaviness and nihilistic themes. The industrial side of the sound stems from the guitar distortion, drum programming, and keyboard usage. The vocals range from the deep gloom of Scott Kelly to the raging shouts of main vocalist Mike Williams. The poetic lyrics fit like a glove with this heavy doomy industrial metal music, along with some eerie sax. Last City Zero allows you to experience destruction and withering hope pleasantly from the comfort of your home. The experimentation blended with steel-strong heaviness is not something you would find in every supergroup. It fits well for if the world is reduced to ruin by climate change and carbon footprints....

4/5

Recommended tracks: "Serve of Survive", "Party Leg and Three Fingers", "Dirt Poor and Mentally Ill", "Drapes Hung by Jesus"

For fans of: Eyehategod, Neurosis, Godflesh

Here's my review summary:

After the overly hardcore punk-ish Halo in a Haystack, the second Converge album Petitioning the Empty Sky marks a great contributor to the birth of the metalcore we know, love, and hate. Who knows what metalcore would've been like if Converge didn't step out of their hardcore comfort zone? I'm glad they did! This album has been praised and put in top-10 hardcore/metalcore album lists, along with other later Converge albums. Petitioning the Empty Sky has caused a new flow in the history of hardcore and heavy metal. If anyone who can't stand metalcore hears this and screams, "What is THIS!?!", the correct answer would be "A revolutionary piece of heavy history!" Converge wasn't the only band with the idea of inventing metalcore. There seems to be a school of bands experimenting with mixing metal with hardcore, but I'm sure the top student of that metal-hardcore experimentation class is, you guessed it, Converge! And it looks like a couple other bands in 1996/1997 (Cave In and The Dillinger Escape Plan) were already following Converge's steps with their own demos/EPs, though they couldn't go the same height as Petitioning the Empty Sky...except maybe Dillinger's Calculating Infinity. Anyway, unlike Halo in a Haystack and the earlier Converge demo EPs that lean more towards traditional hardcore, their second album unleashed the rhythm vs. melody instrumentation and dissonant vocals of metalcore. It is a raw dynamic brute force to dig out of the underground and change two genres' destinies! I can go on about the first track "The Saddest Day" alone and how it perfectly exemplifies the sound of the band and the genre at the time, but it's best left in the full review. Cacophonic guitars drift through with the throbbing rhythm of drums and bass (NOT the genre, the instruments) with a caustic vocal force as vocalist Jacob Bannon screams his lungs out. The album was re-released two years later with live tracks that are great but not as much as the studio part of the album. While I'm sure there are more experimental metalcore albums out there by bands like Cave In, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and even Converge themselves in their ambient-ish masterpiece Jane Doe, Petitioning the Empty Sky is revolutionary in the hardcore and metal fields, ranging from violent chaos to tranquil melody. Generally, it's a #1 metalcore kick-starter pack!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "The Saddest Day", "Dead", "Farewell Note to the City", "Color Me Blood Red"

For fans of: early Cave In, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Shai Hulud

Here's my review summary:

Since 2017's Mesmer, Northlane has travelled through the alt-metal realm with gradually withering emphasis on their metalcore roots and taking on cyber/industrial metal territory in albums Alien and Obsidian. At the point of this EP, Mirror's Edge, Northlane can be considered more of an alt-metal band with some of their mid-2010s djent, and that's an accurate description for the EP, and then some... The band went to Victoria’s Yarra Valley to find some creative inspiration and overcome their struggles. It is quite a journey to add more to their stylistic journey! The EP has new elements to go with what they've done earlier, to please fans with their Obsidian-like blend of electronics and metal, sometimes having a more rock-ish vibe while still unleashing the usual heavy attack. All in all, Mirror's Edge has some amazing fun that can give new fans a nice treat and longtime fans what they want to hear. This is high-quality usage of electronics and metal together. The guest vocalists are quite helpful with the EP's variety. This might be the beginning of the band's next generation!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: "Afterimage", "Miasma", "Let Me Disappear"

For fans of: 2000s Karnivool, later Parkway Drive, Structures (quite obvious from the guest appearances, but the EP reminds me greatly of those 3 bands)

Here's my submission for the March Guardians playlist:

Sabaton - "Unbreakable" (from The Art of War, 2008)

Update for March:

THE FALLEN: SONNY

THE GATEWAY: SAXY, Andi

THE GUARDIANS: XEPHYR, Karl

THE HORDE: SONNY, Karl, Vinny

THE INFINITE: ANDI, Xephyr, Saxy

THE NORTH: XEPHYR, Sonny, Karl

THE PIT: VINNY, Sonny

THE REVOLUTION: ANDI

THE SPHERE: ANDI

Nice review, Rex, though I consider The Land of Rape and Honey an industrial metal album, therefore a Sphere album, with the same level of industrial metal as in Killing Joke's Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions.

I look forward to getting that brand-new All That Remains album. In all 4 of its pre-release singles, I can hear the band getting back on their feet after the loss of founding guitarist Oli Herbert, with new guy Jason Richardson pulling off impressive guitarwork while respectfully maintaining Oli's legacy. I can't wait to hear how the rest of it goes...