Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

A true atmospheric classic performed live in the final show from these Finnish melodeath legends. RIP Alexi Laiho and Children of Bodom.

Sum 41's 13 Voices hits hard with a lot of the drama and sincerity in this rollercoaster ride of punk gone alt-metal in epic anthems like this one:

And even in deluxe edition bonus tracks like this one:

A f***ing embarrassment of cheesy 80s electro-synths and rapping-like vocals in the verses:

Melodic harmony and dreamy lyrics are balance out with the heavy rhythm and rough vocals in this industrial metal hit:

A truly hypnotic summary of Madder Mortem's earlier melancholic progressive doom:

A killer short yet progressive track with catchy heavy rhythm to headbang to:

A ravaging unique blend of nu/rap metal with Indian classical music:

This sh*tty interlude does nothing for me at all:

Fantastic industrial thrash metal that goes f***ing hard:

High-quality industrial metal by this Sepultura/Fudge Tunnel side-project:

Ben, please add the new Children of Bodom live album A Chapter Called Children of Bodom.

Finnish industrial metal with a similar electro-dance vibe to German trancecore band Electric Callboy:

Some more metalcore bands I now enjoy thanks to some amazing discoveries, including the melodic metalcore of these two bands:

The crushing deathcore of Impending Doom:

And the experimental mathy metalcore of The Chariot:

Sorry, Ben, two more requests. Please add these Alter Bridge live albums:

Live From Amsterdam

Live at Wembley

Ben, please add these new releases:

Impending Doom - Last Days (EP)

War of Ages - Rhema (EP)

War of Ages - Dominion

Ben, please add the new Atreyu album The Beautiful Dark of Life.

That is quite the problem there. If a band that isn't hip-hop or alt-metal has a song that has rapping, people can easily think they've gone rap metal. That's one reason why I don't like it when a metal band adds in rapping out of nowhere. It's very likely that anyone who has first heard "And We Run" by Within Temptation would wrongly think, "This band is rap metal now! Who knew!?"

That would be another interesting combo, Daniel, but no, it's just death metal with rap vocals.

Well for releases that have hip-hop instrumentation mixed with that of metal, a couple prime examples of that are Limp Bizkit's Significant Other and Linkin Park's Collision Course remix EP with Jay-Z. Though you do make a good point about Rage Against the Machine, Daniel, despite rapping being an important aspect for that band. Now if you take an extreme metal song and add rap vocals to it, then it's more of a remix instead of a rap metal song. Viper (the RAPPER, not the band Andre Matos was in before Angra), has done that before with Burzum's "Dunkelheit". Someone in a Discord server I was in (I don't use Discord anymore due to toxicity there, by the way) shared this and to be honest, it's kind of an interesting mix, although I'm never really a fan of both artists:

My top 5 rap metal releases:

1. Attila - About That Life (2013)

2. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (EP) (1999)

3. Bloodywood - Rakshak (2022)

4. Linkin Park - Collision Course (2004)

5. Limp Bizkit - Significant Other (1999)

Rap metal is never really a favorite genre of mine, though the combination of hip-hop and metal works out well for that Anthrax song "I'm the Man" and bands like Attila, Limp Bizkit, and the more rapping side of Linkin Park. It's when a metal band adds in rapping out of nowhere that I find quite infuriating ("The Session" by Veil of Maya, "And We Run" by Within Temptation, etc.). Anyway, is rap metal a legitimate subgenre? I would say yes. It's the best way to describe bands like Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine, and Stuck Mojo, adding in rapping and even some of the instrumentation you would find in hip-hop. Then there's trap metal, a subgenre that adds metal elements to the hip-hop genre trap, though according to RYM, it's a descendant of hardcore/industrial trap, not metal. It would be interesting for us to experiment with trap metal in this site, but for another day....

After my brief exploration of melodic/symphonic black metal, I've given A New Dimension of Might some more listening and realized I may be wrong here. Sure there are the aforementioned symphonic black metal aspects in this album, but they're practically nothing compared to the earlier epic fury of Emperor and Windir. The operatic symphonics of Nightwish and Epica take most of the spotlight here. So I'd like those hall entries cancelled and this Trail of Tears album's position in its clans left as is, please Daniel.

Ben, please add these bands:

Jeff Killed John (earlier incarnation of Bullet for My Valentine)

Sum 41 (Their album 13 Voices has the Alternative Metal tag that now fits the RYM 2:1 ratio (for: 8 - against: 3).)

A plain bad laughingstock of a nu metal song:

Disturbed's true anthem which, no matter how disturbing it gets, deserves its fame:

Isn't that Megadeth album kind of weird? Some versions have a censored version of the Nancy Sinatra cover, others lack it entirely.  The former practically turned it into a gag song.

I've heard about this. The writer of the original song, Lee Hazlewood did not approve of the "These Boots" cover that was basically a "vile and offensive" parody. He threatened to sue the band if the band didn't remove the song from future releases, so that's what they've done. The 2002 remastered edition restores that track, but because of that controversy, the altered lyrics were censored. Another remastered edition was released in 2018 with a new re-recording of "These Boots" that contains the original lyrics. Type O Negative had that similar issue during the recording of the album Bloody Kisses with their song "Summer Girl" that was a parody of "Summer Breeze" by Seals and Crofts who did not approve of the alter lyrics and forced Type O Negative to instead make a cover of the song with the original lyrics. Oh yeah, Bloody Kisses has a 30th anniversary vinyl re-release, and there will be a graphic novel based on the album with contributions from members of Anthrax, Lacuna Coil, Black Veil Brides, Biohazard, Butcher Babies, and Fear Factory. And in other gothic metal-related news, Paradise Lost's re-recording of Icon, Icon 30 was released 10 days ago. I should check it out sometime....

A rapid-fire Beat Saber-exclusive song by the self-proclaimed Warp Speed Warriors:

1. Gateway playlist - 4/5 (number of songs commented: 14)

2. Infinite playlist - 4.5/5 (number of songs commented: 12)

3. Pit playlist - 4.5/5 (number of songs commented: 7)

4. Revolution playlist - 4.5/5 (number of songs commented: ALL 27)

5. Sphere playlist - 4/5 (number of songs commented: ALL 28)

For the clans I've made the monthly playlists for (The Revolution and The Sphere), I've listened to the entire playlists! I'm grateful to Saxy, Vinny, and Daniel for their playlist works. I really dig the tracks I've reviewed in the Gateway, Infinite, and Pit playlists made by Saxy and Vinny, and I'm glad the two other playlists I've made have paid off. I recommend them to any fan of the clans' 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!

My December feature release ratings so far:

THE HORDE: Disbelief - "Worst Enemy" (2001) 4.5/5

THE REVOLUTION: Zao - "Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest" (1998) 5/5

THE SPHERE: Morbid Angel - "Illud Divinum Insanus" (2011) 2.5/5

The Horde and Revolution nominations (the latter being my own nomination) are incredible gems that I would recommend to fans of their respective genres. The Morbid Angel album isn't all that great though, though I like it slightly better than most death metal fans would. Keep up the good work on the feature releases, all! I look forward to more...

Massive groove-ish death 'n' roll:

Melancholic doomy sludge metal:

Monstrous deathly groove metal:

OK, I have to agree that this isn't death metal per se. However, to my ears, alternative metal doesn't really cut it as part of the album's sound. The "alternative" songs actually have heavier riffing and mid-tempo more in common with groove metal, blended with the deathly while still melodic but not overly melodic riffing of death 'n' roll as you might hear from Entombed's Wolverine Blues. My track-to-track genre analysis would go something like this:

1. Misery - groove metal/sludge metal

2. Believer - groove metal/death 'n' roll

3. Survive - sludge metal/groove metal

4. All or Nothing - groove metal/sludge metal/death 'n' roll

5. Denial - sludge metal/death-doom

6. Assassinate the Scars - death metal/death 'n' roll/groove metal

7. Recession - sludge metal/groove metal

8. Living Wreck - sludge metal/death-doom

9. Humiliation - groove metal/sludge metal/death 'n' roll

10. Outro - ambient FX outro

With that, I'm gonna have to give a NO vote to your Gateway entry for this album, Daniel. Then I'll add in a judgement submission to have added to The Pit with the groove metal tag, so stay tuned...

I've done my review. Here's its summary:

I felt up to facing one of my worst enemies, the heavier side of death metal. This is the kind of devilish aggression I'm normally in a feud with, and yet I can't help but take it on. The chaotic nature smashes me around and leaves me breathless. It's so horrifying yet so good! OK, I have to agree that this isn't death metal per se. Imagine blending together the standard death metal that you might find in 90s Hypocrisy and Bolt Thrower with the sludgy side of Neurosis and Will Haven, and a bit of Entombed's Wolverine Blues. You end up getting an excellent extreme death 'n' roll/sludge/groove metal sound, that barely any other band has tried, with songs ranging from sludgy and melancholic, to dynamic and groove-filled, to deathly while still melodic but not overly melodic, all in monstrous guitars, annihilating bass, devastating drums, and inhumane vocals. So get ready to face a true powerful beast!

4.5/5

Holy f***ing wars... The British speedy power metal heroes are back! Their new single is a catchy fun song to party to. And we'll have to wait to find out two things: 1. Will this appear in the band's next album? 2. Who's the new keyboardist/pianist?

Now made a lot better with the addition of the mighty singing of Amaranthe female vocalist Elize Ryd:

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

Deathstars - "The Perfect Cult" (4:02) from The Perfect Cult (2014)

Fear Factory - "Replica" (4:01) from Demanufacture (1995)

Gothminister - "Thriller (Extended Version)" (6:55) from Happiness in Darkness (2008)

In This Moment - "Everything Starts and Ends with You" (3:33) from Godmode (2023)

Pain - "Leave Me Alone" (4:10) from You Only Live Once (2011)

Samael - "Exodus" (3:48) from Exodus (1998)

Total length: 26:29

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

Abigail Williams - "The Conqueror Wyrm" (4:21) from Legend (2006)

Bullet for My Valentine - "Hand of Blood" (3:36) from Hand of Blood (2005)

Emmure - "I Should Have Called Ms. Glen" (4:54) from The Complete Guide to Needlework (2006)

God Forbid - "Soul Engraved" (3:57) from Gone Forever (2004)

Hopesfall - "Escape Pod for Intangibles" (2:28) from The Satellite Years (2002)

Parkway Drive - "Flesh, Bone and Weakness" (5:13) from Don't Close Your Eyes (2004)

Trivium - "At the End of the War" (4:47) from Vengeance Falls (2013)

Total length: 29:18

Here are my submissions for the January Infinite playlist, once again having two long epics in mind:

Kayo Dot - "The Manifold Curiosity" (14:28) from Choirs of the Eye (2003)

Opeth - "Blackwater Park" (12:08) from Blackwater Park (2001)

Total length: 26:36

Here are my submissions for the January Gateway playlist:

Beartooth - "I Was Alive" (3:18) from The Surface (2023)

Bullet for My Valentine - "Riot" (2:49) from Temper Temper (2013)

Ed Sheeran, Bring Me the Horizon - "Bad Habits" (4:10) from Bad Habits (2022)

Five Finger Death Punch - "My Heart Lied" (3:35) from The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Volume 2 (2013)

Limp Bizkit - "Break Stuff" (2:48) from Significant Other (1999)

Megan Thee Stallion, Spiritbox - "Cobra (Rock Remix)" (3:06) from Cobra (Rock Remix) (2023)

Roadrunner United - "The End" (3:35) from The All-Star Sessions (2005)

While She Sleeps - "Self Hell" (4:40) from Self Hell (2023)

Total length: 28:01

Daniel, do you have a good Sphere track you wanna submit? I plan to start working on the January playlist later this weekend. No rush though, I can wait.

Daniel, do you have a good Revolution track you wanna submit? I plan to start working on the January playlist later this weekend. No rush though, I can wait.

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Dance With the Dead - "March of the Dead" from Driven to Madness (2022)

3/5. Let's begin with a darksynth project that made a decent album intro of industrial metal. I guess the best part would have over the one-minute mark which sounds pretty cool. Time to bash some zombie warriors!

Static-X - "I'm With Stupid" from Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)

3.5/5. This one has some great lyrics to like, "HE'S A LOSER!!!"

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

4/5. Maria Brink is quite impressive at making In This Moment covers of pop hits, like this Bjork classic.

Godflesh - "ARMY OF NON" from PURGE (2023)

4.5/5. This one has the band's unabridged purity. It throws back to the glory days of Streetcleaner with the hammering and screeching guitars alongside the harsh vocals of Broadrick. The diversity in the heaviness adds to their bleak aura.

Celldweller - "The Wings of Icarus" from Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head Vol. 02 (2012)

5/5. One of the best instrumental songs I've heard, and it was in the trailer for Real Steel! With my brother loving that movie and these kinds of tracks mixing industrial metal with dubstep and TSFH-like orchestration, you bet he might get a kick out of this kick-A action. When the music rises up until the bass drop at exactly one minute in, you know you're in for an epic treat.

16volt - "Perfectly Fake" from Skin (1994)

4.5/5. A perfect hodgepodge of experimentation, similar to what Candiria was doing at that time, but the hardcore elements are replaced with industrial ones.

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

4/5. "You're a nice person... You're a b***h!" F***ing killer remix!

Obsydians - "Ascension" from Ascension (2018)

3.5/5. Obsydians is a band form by members of Sybreed after that split with Sybreed vocalist Benjamin Nominet moving on to Shadow Domain. Cool guitars and vocals here.

Minority Sound - "The End of All" from The Explorer (2012)

3/5. This one starts off pretty cool, but the long ending is a little too much.

Kit Walters - "The Stains of Time (Maniac Agenda Mix)" from METAL GEAR RISING REVENGANCE VOCAL TRACKS (2013)

3.5/5. Pretty good song to love for some cyber metal action from Metal Gear Rising.

Lock the Basement - "Green" from REVITALIZED (2021)

4/5. Although this is more of a HIM/Red Hot Chili Peppers-like track, it fits well for the concept of a strange claustrophobic future of disillusionment and desperation.

Genitorturers - "120 Days" from 120 Days of Genitorture (1993)

4.5/5. The dark sinister vibe is spawned straight from this track. The name of that song and this album reference Marquis de Sade’s unfinished erotic novel 120 Days of Sodom. Already, the lyrical message has some deep power.

Omega Lithium - "Nebula" from Dreams in Formaline (2009)

5/5. The humanity-threatened monster continues to roam in this scary yet catchy masterpiece composition. Within the evil synthesized violins and cold vocals, the creature has DNA from the aliens of Nebula who wage war on Earth to tire out the human rebellion.

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

5/5. A perfect hip-hop-ish industrial metal track in which this crossover idea works so well!

Fear Factory - "Controlled Demolition" from Mechanize (2010)

4.5/5. This one also stands out with its heaviness, with lyrics detailing the government being blamed for 9/11. Of course, there's something different to blame, so theorists should cut the bullsh*t. In the bridge is a sample of the 911 call from one of the victims in the World Trade Center as the tower started collapsing ("OH GOD! HELP-").

D'espairsRay - "BORN" from BORN (2004)

5/5. D*mn, I love this insane song. The vocals blend well with the instruments without getting drowned out. It's sad that a band this awesome gets poor attention.

Dawn of Ashes - "Ahriman" from The Crypt Injection II (Non Serviam) (2019)

4.5/5. Black-ish industrial metal/aggrotech similar to Psyclon Nine. Enough said.

Waltari - "Far Away" from Space Avenue (1997)

5/5. A catchy poppy industrial metal single, with more of the cosmic keyboards and vocal fuzz.

Gravity Kills - "Never" from Gravity Kills (1996)

3.5/5. A heavy track with decent singing. What else to say?

Till Lindemann - "Lecker" from Zunge (2023)

4/5. I really like this track that has gigantic synths and grooves as Lindemann shines in melody and occasional raspy vocals that he has been using recently.

Red Harvest - "Move or Be Moved" from Newrage World Music (1998)

4.5/5. Excellent preview to a song later appearing in Cold Dark Matter.

Mnemic - "Sons of the System" from Sons of the System (2010)

5/5. This one brings back some of the band's earlier riff technicality especially in the fast thrashy verses, but they haven't forgotten about their more recent catchy choruses worth singing along to.

Control Human Delete - "Transporter" from The Prime Mover (2013)

4.5/5. Black-ish industrial metal similar to that Dawn of Ashes track, but without any aggrotech.

Ministry - "Relapse" from Relapse (2012)

4/5. Al Jourgensen continues to kick a**, as his vocals, guitars, and beats get better and smash through, with some cool samples to add to the punch, though the lyrics are a bit off. This unstoppable drug-hungry force might just be in the famous metal club of Black Sabbath, Pantera, Slayer, and Metallica. Here, Ministry is reinventing the Psalm 69 wheel and adding a bit of an alt-nu metal vibe to the usual industrial metal. The cymbals sounds a little weird in the chaos. The drugs Al has been taking during the recording of Relapse seem to enhance the mayhem. Just hang in there...

Strommoussheld - "Era Depression" from Halfdecadence (2004)

3.5/5. Great bass line in this song, but I have nothing else to comment there.

Bliss Signal - "Bliss Signal" from Bliss Signal (2018)

4/5. This one's also pretty great, adding some blackgaze to industrial metal.

Oomph! - "Ich bin Du" from Oomph! (1992)

4.5/5. This is actually one of my favorite Oomph! songs and, yep I'm saying this, it's metal enough to be in this playlist with some guitars in full prominence at the most needed parts.

Gothminister - "Boogeyman" from Utopia (2013)

5/5. And finally, we finishing this playlist with a complex entertaining 6-minute epic.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? Despite some bumpiness throughout, especially in the first half. 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 I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

HEAVENSGATE - "VIOLENT JOY" from VIOLENT JOY (2023)

4.5/5. Now here's a playlist opener not to be missed. There's something so special about this band like, HOLY SH*T, some f***ing emotional fire! Such an excellent beast they unleash in absolutely brutal momentum. This hard banger can really shine on the top of this year as you storm the gates of Hell. This will get you hooked to the Make Them Suffer-like heaviness all the way up to the final violent 15-second breakdown.

Kingdom of Giants - "Wasted Space" from Wasted Space (2023)

4/5. Great song, good vocals, far better than Slipknot, enough said.

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

4.5/5. We blast through the drumming and riffing of one of Architects' heaviest songs yet, but the atmospheric chorus and clean vocals also sink in and never lose their grip.

All That Remains - "Divide" from The Order of Things (2015)

4/5. This is more of a Skillet-like rock/metal song with a catchy melody. That's probably one of the first songs where bassist Jeanne Sagan's backing vocals are prominent, singing together with vocalist Phil Labonte in the chorus.

Apparitions - "Coda" from Coda (2023)

4.5/5. First song I've heard from this band and it's already quite addictive. From the intro riff, you're already heading into amazing catchy metalcore. Music touches your soul and gives you a better future. The instrumentation sits nicely alongside the cleans and screams letting out killer lyrics, "DESTINED TO TAKE THE FINAL FALL!!!" This cool sh*t is what you wish Bring Me the Horizon would bring back.

Imminence - "Lost and Left Behind" from Heaven in Hiding (2021)

5/5. I absolutely love this one! This is symphonic metalcore that I need more of.

Polaris - "Consume" from The Mortal Coil (2017)

5/5. This brilliant standout is pure technical metalcore. It's an incredible highlight with the best of the late Ryan Siew's guitar leads. He and rhythm guitarist Rick Schneider put their work out in sharp delivery that barely any other band could.

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

4.5/5. I love this band, along with this song! The only problem is the soothing singing during the last chorus that's a bit unclear. Still this band knows what they're doing and how to do it. This is the kind of metalcore I can truly accept.

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

5/5. The ultimate extreme metalcore track of its original album is its heaviest song with a monstrous riff and a crazy shredding solo. Matt Tuck and Jason James have a total scream-off in the verses.

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

5/5. Decimate the Weak is an awesome symphonic deathcore album, from the music to its album cover. The band reach their height of brutality in the breakdown at the 3 and a half minute mark. Think of this band like As Blood Runs Black with background symphonics.

Dragoncorpse - "Blood and Stones" from The Drakketh Saga (2023)

4.5/5. The fast relentless symphonic deathcore sound continues, in a once-thought-impossible blend with power metal, complete with a brutal chant of "Blood in, blood out".

Brojob - "Teenie Weenie" from Talk Shit Get Kissed (2018)

4/5. "THIS IS THE SOUND OF A THOUSAND CLAPPING A**ES!!!!" The more brutal side of metal has taken on a more perverted theme than satanic, and it shows that you can add humor to such an extreme genre.

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

4.5/5. It's currently nighttime as of writing this comment, and it adds to the song's f***ing haunting relevance. I enjoy the vocals by Tom Barber who was the former vocalist of Lorna Shore before joining this band.

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

4/5. This is some great metalcore/deathcore before taking on a more Limp Bizkit like nu-ish direction in later albums, bringing back some good memories for those who have listened to this genre earlier than I ever had. Deathcore has cool mesmerizing wonders. F*** the sh*t haters say! The brutality reaches its highlight throughout the last minute, "MY EYES STILL SCREAM... CHILDHOOD!!!" There are definitely some vibes from For the Fallen Dreams at that time, and I love both bands. Some lyrics do make historical quotes, "WHY WOULD YOU LIE TO ME? WHAT WAS THE POINT?!" "MOVIE QUOTES AND LYRICS STILL CONNECTING US LIKE CONSTELLATIONS!"

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

4.5/5. Another amazing heavy banger, filled with hardcore chaos for your manly lifestyle, "THUNDERHEART!!!!!!" And HOLY SH*T, the chorus that first appears one minute in rules, along with the breakdown that starts the last minute.

Celldweller, The Browning - "Switchback" from Switchback (2023)

5/5. Celldweller and The Browning once again proves themselves to be a fantastic remix collaboration duo, with the latter adding a furious breakdown to enhance this Celldweller classic. This is truly powerful industrial metalcore/deathcore! I'll be headbanging a lot to this while crying tears of joy.

Parkway Drive - "Alone" from Deep Blue (2010)

5/5. This one has similar elements than that other "Alone" song from the Bullet for My Valentine album Fever; they're both the 6th and longest track in their 2010 third album considered metalcore. Coincidence?? Probably... Anyway, it blends riffing and vocals worth singing along to with a meaningful yet strange slow chorus.

Prospective - "Visions" from Beyond (2016)

4.5/5. Some more f***ing great metalcore with good screams. The bass tones make a djenty beast, straight from the first verse onwards.

We Blame the Empire - "As I Fall" from Inferno (2023)

4.5/5. I love the beautiful melancholy from the guitar melodies in this one.

The Devil Wears Prada - "Reaching" from Color Decay (deluxe edition) (2023)

5/5. I promised to listen to this band full-time, and thanks to this awesome song, that promise is finally fulfilled!

Amaranthe - "Iconic" from HELIX (2018)

4.5/5. A pleasant surprise for heavier metalheads, running wild through hyperspeed melodic thrash and powerful choruses.

Any Given Day - "Whatever It Takes" from Overpower (2019)

4/5. Another pleasant metalcore trip, with a nice soft break at the two and a half minute mark. Solid fire right here, with the growls having a bit of an Emmure vibe. I'll do whatever it takes to unearth more music like this.

Withdrawn - "Striation" from Seeds of Inhumanity (1999)

4.5/5. My favorite highlight of this early deathcore album. They lose some speed but in a controlled pace, leading to a mighty breakdown, before getting moody in the end. Perhaps one of the greatest early deathcore songs besides some of the ones from Embodyment's Embrace the Eternal!

Currents - "Remember Me" from The Death We Seek (2023)

4/5. I love the haunting heaviness in this song, along with lyrics and vocals to touch my soul. Thank you, Currents!

August Burns Red - "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" from August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill (2012)

4.5/5. Merry Christmas, metalcore fans! Enjoy this Christmas metalcore song to prepare you for a holiday battle.

Norma Jean - "Pretty Soon, I Don't Know What, But Something Is Going to Happen" from Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child (2002)

5/5. I often listen to one of my playlists half a dozen times between when I create it and when it gets published at the start of a month. A unique thing for a metalcore band like Norma Jean is how they can easily make a 15-minute sludgy metal/mathcore epic. I have been quite familiar with epics that long since when I was listening to power metal and progressive metal in 2014. This epic is so heavy and beautiful all the way! Light and darkness blended together, if you will. It's hard to find bands of this style that can pull off a spectacular stunt like that, except maybe August Burns Red's epic from their debut album. At the 4-minute mark, the riffs become more interesting to keep you hooked. Then it all quiets down at the 10-minute mark before rising up again into a climax hitting its peak at nearly 13 minutes in. A true metalcore/mathcore epic!

Trivium - "Thrown Into the Fire" from The Sin and the Sentence (2017)

5/5. After that glorious epic, there's still one more song left for this playlist, and it's this chaotic closer. Heafy showcases a lot of his screaming potential with not as many clean vocals as the previous songs. The song has an epic aggressive chorus and some flaming high-pitched progressive guitar solos which, to be honest, sound almost like part of the chorus from "The Root of All Evil" by Dream Theater.

HOLY SH*T, this is probably close to the best metalcore playlist I've ever done, with every track ranging from 4.5 to 5 stars, except for a few tracks throughout the playlist. 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 I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!

Seeing some bands I'm familiar with in this playlist, I felt up to listening to and commenting on those tracks:

Mystic Storm – “Riddle of Steel” (from “From the Ancient Chaos”, 2021)

4/5. A nice start to this thrash-fest. And there's more of this sound to come...

Iced Earth – “The Funeral” (from “Iced Earth”, 1990)

4.5/5. These were the days when Iced Earth started off a speed/thrash metal band before soon switching to the dark US power metal sound they would be known for. An excellent instrumental without any of original vocalist Gene Adam's awful singing. At over the 3-minute mark, after a brief spoken narration, some wonderful riff harmonies begin to rise, and again at the 5-minute point when everything's speed up. Now that's wicked! Honestly, I need to listen to more of this band despite my indefinite break from the majority of the Guardians and the band's main founder's imprisonment.

Anacrusis – “Far Too Long” (from “Manic Impressions”, 1991)

5/5. Awesome unique progressive thrash metal from one of the earlier bands of the genre!

Coroner – “Mistress of Deception” (from “No More Colour”, 1989)

5/5. My favorite song in its original album! After the first minute, the frantic fills make you feel the pain (in a good way) of the patient when the surgeon slides his scalpel into one of the patient's eye sockets over the eye to remove a cancerous part of the cranium. The rhythms and leads are highly notable, especially in the bridge.

Megadeth – “Good Mourning/Black Friday” (from “Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?”, 1986)

4.5/5. Here's a joke based on the first part of this epic's title and a Cartoon Network show: What did Uncle Grandpa say in a funeral? "Good Mourning!" (lol. Get it? Anyone?) Anyway, the track is quite extreme, almost catching up with other American thrash bands, Teutonic thrash bands, and Sepultura. It starts in sinister doom, including a solo of f***ing dark emotion. After that creepy one-minute intro, the heaviness booms in, though with guitars sounding more clean than distorted. The solo ends, but the riffs are still clean. Dave comes in with his vocals. Then after asking "What the f*** is this?", BOOM!! The guitars and his voice rapidly ascend. Kick-A riffing and soloing go back and forth. The speed cruises and crushes keep until the end when the killer storm of madness makes a grinding halt. Not the right ending, but the rest of that track is so amazing!

Upon A Burning Body – “All Pride, No Pain” (from “Southern Hostility”, 2019)

4.5/5. I never knew deathly metalcore and groove metal can come together in so well in a Southern-inspired mix. Some hostile fire right here!

Vektor – “Forests of Legend” (from “Black Future”, 2009)

5/5. Let's end this playlist with an absolute highlight and one of the three 10+ minute epics from its original album. It begins with an eerie acoustic intro that sounds like the progressive thrash "Bard's Song (In the Forest)", before the heaviness begins building up before crashing safely into early-Megadeth-style speedy thrash. After that, it's back to the eerie acoustic section before another glorious outro!

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Madder Mortem – Towers (2023)

5/5. OMG YES!!! This is another perfect playlist opener, this one having opened my ears to an awesome song from an underrated band that has been active for 3 decades yet hidden from my young view. A beautifully powerful sneak peek for their next album! This track has not disappointed me one bit. The frontwoman has a lot of talent within her vocals. I should put this song high up in my best songs of 2023 list. You can almost consider this band a metal resurrection of Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Anacrusis – Sound the Alarm (1993)

5/5. The lower sorrow of Kenn Nardi's cleans can already be found in the dramatic riff-wrath. The pessimistic darkness would continue in later songs from that album, while the mid-paced riffing stays sharp and keeps the bleakness interesting.

Nospün - …And Then There Were None (2023)

4.5/5. And then there's some melodic progressive metal that sounds amazing, but I would've loved this to bits if that side of my progressive metal interest was still dominant.

Opeth – Hex Omega (2008)

4/5. I love it when, 40 seconds in, the music halts until 40 more seconds later when the vocals rise magnificently. Ghost Reveries and Watershed are the band's two last metal albums before the prog-rock sound of Heritage onwards.

Charlie Griffiths – Dead in the Water (2022)

4.5/5. Some more superb melodic progressive metal, but again I've moved on to the more extreme side of the genre.

Periphery – Dying Star (2023)

5/5. This one has a more uplifting vibe, but the band returns to the impressive intricate heaviness. They can really add warm calm color to an ultra-heavy subgenre like djent.

Wilderun – And So Open the Earth (Ash Memory Part I) (2015)

4.5/5. Although my interest in Opeth has mostly faded out, I still have to thank that band for boosting my love for extreme vocals in progressive metal. With that and the folk/symphonic power metal vibes, this Wilderun track has so much color.

Star One – Human See, Human Do (2010)

4.5/5. "Get your stinkin' paws off me, you d*mn dirty ape!" Star One was one of my favorite progressive metal supergroups when I was younger, and I discovered them earlier than Opeth, like 5 years earlier. Still even back then, I enjoy Dan Swano's growling bridge of "SEE NO EVIL! HEAR NO EVIL! SPEAK NO EVIL! DO NO EVIL!"

Intronaut – Above (2010)

5/5. Another blessing from the heavens above, an underrated post-progressive metal band!

Tool – The Pot (2006)

4.5/5. This one shows the bass rhythm being less snappy, instead synchronizing with the beat in a groove-powered breakdown perfect for some live moshing. Maybe that Plankton AI cover would level up the mosh pit even more. Yeah, that version is what my brother was listening to that made me interested in checking out its original album.

Plini – Still Life (Feat. Tosin Abasi) (2023)

5/5. New Plini single, featuring Animals as Leaders guitarist Tosin Abasi?!?! An absolute djent dream! And who knew you can make a lute sound djent?!

TesseracT – Of Reality – Eclipse (2013)

5/5. Altered State is one of my favorite djent albums, and one any modern metal fan should have in their lifetime! Through the last third of this part, the filthy drumming adds to the serene ambience for beautiful heights. But I gotta get out of here before that peak drops....

Here are my thoughts on some tracks:

Alien Weaponry – Whisper (2018)

5/5. Now here's a perfect start for this playlist, a greatly significant song in both the production and defending their culture, with mighty powerful melodies inspired by Stone Sour, specifically Corey Taylor.

Beartooth – The Better Me (2023)

4.5/5. Let's rock out to the catchy energy this band has with country rock musician Hardy to give you more motivation and mental health.

Code Orange – Take Shape (2023)

5/5. A true Gateway anthem, this accessible yet total rocker is a killer single. The one and only Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins performs his signature nasal singing over an ominous bridge, though the dark melody and harsh rhythm of the chorus really hits the spot for me. Hard yet smart writing!

Coldrain – 24-7 (2009)

2.5/5. This one falls into a two-faced emo-rock trap, and that's my cue to skip over to slightly later in the playlist...

Five Finger Death Punch – Burn MF (2013)

3/5. The playlist quality starts to slowly climb back up. I could probably scream along to this if not for these explicitly aggressive lyrics. For that reason, my parents couldn't let my brother let me hear this at the time when this album came out 10 years ago when back then I was 14 and he was 16.

From Ashes to New – My Fight (2013)

3.5/5. Same with this one... Hypothetically. My brother didn't discover this until quite recently, and despite the rapping overdose, it's quite catchy. "Get up, get up, get up...!"

Godsmack – I Stand Alone (2003)

4/5. Now this is a different moderate standout in this playlist, and this single was featured in The Scorpion King and the show I've been binge-watching. An absolutely killer song for battle!

Karnivool – C.O.T.E. (2005)

4.5/5. This atmospheric track packs some polished punches with riff crunch and frontman Ian Kenny's subdued vocals. Ethereal melodic streams flow with edgy guitar. The band is mature enough to handle the tight production and go complex without having to go high in speed.

Katatonia – Sold Heart (2010)

4/5. The sadness in Jonas Renkse's voice is so convincing and admirable. Samurai Jack-like vibes much?

Lacuna Coil – Survive (2009)

4.5/5. Some more darkness to love, this time more energetic. I probably would've loved this more long ago though, especially when I don't recognize a bit of the lyrical quality.

Living Colour – Type (1990)

4/5. Funk metal is never really my type, though this song has kick-A iconic potential.

Machinae Supremacy – Phantom Battle (2014)

4.5/5. Now here's a battle-ready 8-bit-infused alt-/power metal banger. The guitar in the intro and chorus execute epic shredding!

Slipknot – Custer (2014)

4/5. This reckless track has a bit of spoken word before his scathing ranting over crushing speed as he chants, "CUT CUT CUT ME UP AND F*** F*** F*** ME UP!" When my brother was listening to the song this year when the song became a TikTok staple, that was my indirect invitation to listen to the album that included that thrashy highlight.

Spiritbox – Ultraviolet (2023)

4.5/5. To conclude this partial playlist speed-run, I'd like to thank not just Saxy for making the playlist, but also Spiritbox for being the heroes/heroine of modern metal. Beautiful emotional songs like this might just make history this decade.

Here's my submission for the December Guardians playlist:

Sabaton - "Sparta" (from The Last Stand, 2016)

December 2023

1. Dance With the Dead - "March of the Dead" from Driven to Madness (2022)

2. Static-X - "I'm With Stupid" from Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)

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

4. Godflesh - "ARMY OF NON" from NERO (2023)

5. Celldweller - "The Wings of Icarus" from Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head Vol. 02 (2012)

6. 16volt - "Perfectly Fake" from Skin (1994) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

7. Mushroomhead - "Episode 29 (Hardcore Mix)" from Remix (1997) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

8. Obsydians - "Ascension" from Ascension (2018)

9. Minority Sound - "The End of All" from The Explorer (2012)

10. Kit Walters - "The Stains of Time (Maniac Agenda Mix)" from METAL GEAR RISING REVENGANCE VOCAL TRACKS (2013)

11. Lock the Basement - "Green" from REVITALIZED (2021)

12. Genitorturers - "120 Days" from 120 Days of Genitorture (1993)

13. Omega Lithium - "Nebula" from Dreams in Formaline (2009)

14. Code Orange - "A Drone Opting Out of the Hive" from The Above (2023) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Fear Factory - "Controlled Demolition" from Mechanize (2010) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. D'espairsRay - "BORN" from BORN (2004)

17. Dawn of Ashes - "Ahriman" from The Crypt Injection II (Non Serviam) (2019)

18. Waltari - "Far Away" from Space Avenue (1997)

19. Gravity Kills - "Never" from Gravity Kills (1996)

20. Till Lindemann - "Lecker" from Zunge (2023)

21. Red Harvest - "Move or Be Moved" from Newrage World Music (1998)

22. Mnemic - "Sons of the System" from Sons of the System (2010)

23. Control Human Delete - "Transporter" from The Prime Mover (2013)

24. Ministry - "Relapse" from Relapse (2012)

25. Strommoussheld - "Era Depression" from Halfdecadence (2004)

26. Bliss Signal - "Bliss Signal" from Bliss Signal (2018)

27. Oomph! - "Ich bin Du" from Oomph! (1992) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

28. Gothminister - "Boogeyman" from Utopia (2013)

December 2023

1. HEAVENSGATE - "VIOLENT JOY" from VIOLENT JOY (2023)

2. Kingdom of Giants - "Wasted Space" from Wasted Space (2023)

3. Architects - "Naysayer" from Lost Forever // Lost Together (2014) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. All That Remains - "Divide" from The Order of Things (2015)

5. Apparitions - "Coda" from Coda (2023)

6. Imminence - "Lost and Left Behind" from Heaven in Hiding (2021)

7. Polaris - "Consume" from The Mortal Coil (2017)

8. From Autumn to Ashes - "Lilacs & Lolita" from The Fiction We Live (2003) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

9. Bullet for My Valentine - "Waking the Demon" from Scream Aim Fire (2008) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

10. Winds of Plague - "Anthems of Apocalypse" from Decimate the Weak (2008) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

11. Dragoncorpse - "Blood and Stones" from The Drakketh Saga (2023)

12. Brojob - "Teenie Weenie" from Talk Shit Get Kissed (2018)

13. Chelsea Grin - "See You Soon" from Eternal Nightmare (2018) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Emmure - "You Got a Henna Tattoo That Said Forever" from Goodbye to the Gallows (2007) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

15. Upon a Burning Body - "Thunderheart" from Fury (2022) [submitted by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

16. Celldweller, The Browning - "Switchback" from Switchback (2023)

17. Parkway Drive - "Alone" from Deep Blue (2010)

18. Prospective - "Visions" from Beyond (2016)

19. We Blame the Empire - "As I Fall" from Inferno (2023)

20. The Devil Wears Prada - "Reaching" from Color Decay (deluxe edition) (2023)

21. Amaranthe - "Iconic" from HELIX (2018)

22. Any Given Day - "Whatever It Takes" from Overpower (2019)

23. Withdrawn - "Striation" from Seeds of Inhumanity (1999)

24. Currents - "Remember Me" from The Death We Seek (2023)

25. August Burns Red - "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" from August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin' Hill (2012)

26. Norma Jean - "Pretty Soon, I Don't Know What, But Something Is Going to Happen" from Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child (2002)

27. Trivium - "Thrown Into the Fire" from The Sin and the Sentence (2017)