Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies
My thoughts on some tracks (including my suggested ones):
Paradise Lost – “Mouth” (from “Believe In Nothing”, 2001)
3/5. A rock song from a usually gothic/doom band that might have inspired the post-grunge movement with bands like Seether. My brother who's into Seether and other post-grunge bands would like that song.
Bring Me The Horizon – “Ludens” (from “Post Human: Survival Horror” E.P., 2020)
4/5. This EP marks the return of the metal side of Bring Me the Horizon that was absent after the grand Sempiternal. This amazing song is also in the Death Stranding soundtrack. Ludens is the name of the mascot for Kojima Productions, the company that made Death Stranding, proving once again that this song is a contribution to the game soundtrack. The return to their heavier form can be prominently found near the 3-minute mark. This band has far more potential than Falling in Reverse. BMTH has been given a break from metal, and now the break is over. Welcome back!
Disturbed – “Asylum” (from “Asylum”, 2010)
4.5/5. This track has the alt-metal instrumentation to expect from the band! David Draiman's first words here are a passionate shout of "Release me!" I actually like this song much more now than when I listening to the band 9 years ago, probably because the heaviness I can definitely tolerate much more. The hook is worth repeated listens; "And the loneliness is killing me!" A hard-hitting radio single!
Devin Townsend Project – “Awake!!” (from “Addicted”, 2009)
3.5/5. A great song to end its album and this playlist, despite not having ex-The Gathering singer Anneke van Giersbergen.
Ben, please add Sky Eats Airplane. But on one condition! We are currently settling a experiment on whether or not Nintendocore is a metal subgenre (https://metal.academy/forum/14/thread/749?page=1#topic_6548) and Sky Eats Airplane is one of those bands. So could you please listen to the 3 Nintendocore songs in that thread including the Sky Eats Airplane track and decide whether or not they're metal enough for Nintendocore to stay in the site? If you consider them metal, then Sky Eats Airplane can be added to the site. If you consider them non-metal, then that subgenre is out of here. There's also a trancecore/trance-metal experiment to see if you agree that Trancecore and Trance Metal have good connection and Trancecore should be a Trance Metal subgenre instead of Melodic Metalcore, so please participate in that one too. And please add in the Bodom After Midnight EP that I requested in the Horde thread soon, so I can give that one a review. OK thanks!
Update due to Sonny's vote:
Metalcore - 1
Non-metal - 2
Thank you Daniel for accepting my Revolution feature release submission, here's my summary:
Throughout their previous two releases, Born of Osiris really made a quick evolution through their sound. The New Reign is an over 20 minute EP with 8 short songs filled with fast technical breakdowns and drum beats, and short synth melodies. A Higher Place had a different sound compared to that EP, with atmospheric melodies, crushing vocals, driving drums, and not as many groovy breakdowns. Their true sound would be discovered with The Discovery, where everything comes full circle! The 15 songs here all have the best aspects that Born Of Osiris had in both their previous albums, plus improved structure. The album's lead guitarist Jason Richardson (Chelsea Grin, recently All That Remains) has awesome talent not to be ignored. Killer breakdowns and soaring melodies are swarmed by the screams of Ronnie Canizaro throughout most of these 15 tracks. Plus, one of the songs has clean vocals for the first time for the band, sung by keyboardist Joe Buras. The Discovery is definitely one of the best djenty deathcore releases I've ever heard, a little better than Veil of Maya's ID, and on the same level as the first Periphery album and other Sumerian Records albums. There are many hardcore breakdowns, fast sweeping, and typical deathcore vocals. So if you can't handle that heat, stay out of the djent kitchen. But listen first, judge later. You might just find a true discovery in your music taste!
5/5
Recommend songs: "Follow The Signs", "Singularity", "Shaping the Masterpiece", "Recreate", "Behold"
For fans of: Any of the bands whose album covers are featured in this video below...
My thoughts on some tracks (including my suggested ones):
Within Temptation – “Jillian (I’d Give My Heart)” (from “The Silent Force”, 2004)
5/5. An interesting song based on the Deverry Cycle fantasy novel series by Katharine Kerr, twisted into astounding divinity. An awesome song to seek the amazing truth! Not as slow as their debut Enter, but not as fast as DragonForce, a good balance that I found for the first time via this album, The Silent Force!
Iron Maiden – “Phantom Of The Opera” (from “Iron Maiden”, 1980)
4.5/5. Lol... Right after listening to that Within Temptation song, I saw the song title and thought it was Nightwish's cover of the song from that musical, but nope!! It's the unrelated Iron Maiden song. I still don't feel up to the more mainstream bands like Iron Maiden, Motorhead, or System of a Down, but it's still a cool top notch old classic.
Riot – “Out In The Fields” (from “The Brethren Of The Long House”, 1996)
5/5. I also know that Nightwish covered a Gary Moore song, but I only brought that up because we've come to Riot's cover of a different Gary Moore song, "Out in the Fields"! Gary Moore and Riot guitarist Mark Reale are two brilliant legends who sadly passed away within a year from each other, both in their late 50s. They covered it perfectly!! I respect this band as one of my current favorites. They're always f***ing great, and they make some of the best covers! Riot really keeps their legacy going. The song is also covered by Sonata Arctica, which I haven't heard yet but I probably should. Maybe it might have the brilliant majesty that Riot's cover has. There probably could've been some more energetic flare, but it still rules!
Nightwish – “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” (from “Endless Forms Most Beautiful”, 2015)
5/5. I've talked so much about Nightwish in my comments so far, but now here we are! It's like a theme to a boss fight during world evolution, and remains one of my favorite Nightwish songs, probably more than the Tarja and Anette eras. Floor Jansen is a sensational angel of symphonic power metal!
Running Wild – “Bad To The Bone” (from “Death Or Glory”, 1989)
5.5/5 (not exaggerating). I can't think of what to say about one of my absolute current favorite heavy/power metal songs. You're gonna f***ing love this song whether or not you're a metalhead! SO AWESOME!!!
Epica – “Abyss Of Time – Countdown To Singularity” (from “Omega”, 2021)
5/5. Once again, Epica are back in full force with their new offering Omega! The music is perfect enough to last a thousand years, a possible reference to the Book of Revelation. Epica are still epic and will continue to be!
Löanshark – “Fast, Heavy, Loud 'N Proud” (from “Fast, Heavy, Loud 'N Proud” single, 2020)
4/5. Yes, it's fast. Yes, it's heavy. And yes, it's loud! But am I proud of this band? No, but it's still cool...
Hammerfall – “The Dragon Lies Bleeding” (from “Glory To The Brave”, 1997)
4.5/5. Another speeder which might have inspired DragonForce with this speedier sound and fantasy lyrics about dragons. But I don't quite a lot more of the fantasy themes in the other songs so far, but probably in the next few...
Sonata Arctica – “Don’t Say A Word” (from “Reckoning Night”, 2004)
5/5. One of Sonata Arctica's more epic regular-length songs! I definitely love the solos here, which happen during the beautiful bridge. The emotional love is so familiar in a good way. It's so perfectly amazing! The chorus is so immense. I loved this band so much, especially Henrik Klingenberg's keys and Tony Kakko's voice. It's so epically good, and I definitely prefer the longer version over the radio edit.
DragonForce – “Seasons” (from “The Power Within”, 2012)
4.5/5. This is a more mid-tempo song compared to DragonForce's usual faster works that sounds inspired by the radio singles of Gamma Ray and Stratovarius, and also borrows some of that slow tempo from Ultra Beatdown.
Kamelot – “The Black Halo” (from “The Black Halo”, 2005)
5/5. This driving track is one of the best ever Kamelot songs! I have nothing else to say about this brilliant piece...
My thoughts on some tracks (including my suggested ones):
Amaranthe – “Helix” (from “Helix”, 2018)
4/5. Interesting how I started with a song that reminds of a band that is now gone from my metal interest along with the rest of the you-know-what genre from my playlist. This track sounds more related to mid-2000s In Flames. I like that a bit!
Converge – “Hell To Pay” (from “Jane Doe”, 2001)
4.5/5. What's also interesting is how I spiced up the Revolution playlist with something really slow, with the thick bass to help give it a sludgy vibe and a great suiting tone. One of the best songs in the album to not be part of the greater highlights! (see review)
Unearth – “The Chosen” (from “The March”, 2008)
4.5/5. This one shows some tasty leads, and was chosen as part of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters soundtrack, recorded a year before the rest of the album this song was in, The March.
The Dillinger Escape Plan – “Crossburner” (from “One Of Us Is The Killer”, 2013)
4/5. I guess you call this sludgy track "Phone Home" Part 2!! Moody bass and mechanical distortion scatter over guitars while making the song more violent than a deadly earthquake. The madness would have a good grip on you and shake you hard. This is one of the best songs that don't make my top 5 favorites in this album.
Demon Hunter – “My Destiny” (from “True Defiance”, 2012)
4/5. This one has passionate beautiful choruses surrounding chaotic verses. Good song for any Demon Hunter newcomer fans!
Memphis May Fire – “Alive In The Lights” (from “Challenger”, 2012)
4.5/5. Theo Wyoming, I applaud your decision to contribute to the Revolution playlists. This song is brilliant killer face-blasting metalcore. I might not feel too up to listening to more of this band, but thanks for this suggestion, Theo!
Underøath – “In Division” (from “Ø (Disambiguation)”, 2010)
5/5. Now this is superb! Aaron Gillespie was absent for this album in both the drums and clean vocals, but Spencer's cleans that he uses with his usual screams keep the manliness factor going. No lie, I watched the music video for this song on TV at least 5 years ago during my earlier epic metal taste, but it was until in the center between then and now when I became fully interested in this band during my current modern heavier era. While I enjoy this exciting sound, I love the band in the albums where Aaron is around, though their older stuff. This album is, similar to the previous 3 songs in this playlist, brilliant killer face-blasting metalcore, though it hasn't reached the epic height of Lost in the Sound of Separation. They should definitely have more success than Tool. Christian metalcore for the win (though I'm a Muslim)!
Shadows Fall – “The Light That Blinds” (from “The War Within”, 2004)
5/5. This song comes to a perfect start with a short acoustic intro, then the song itself follows with heavy, pounding rhythms, awesome guitar work, and a memorable catchy chorus. One of the best songs by the band!
God Forbid – “Wicked” (from “Determination”, 2001)
4.5/5. The amazing 6-song winning streak in this playlist continues beautifully in this wicked track, which mixes metalcore rhythms with melodeath leads.
Winds Of Plague – “Approach The Podium” (from “The Great Stone War”, 2009)
5/5. After going through all those down-tuned pieces of metalcore art, the last one I'm commenting on is in standard E, and it sounds so brutal (but in a way I like)! The album's concept about an apocalyptic war in a devolving future should be made into a book or a movie. How much I love this album is probably much more than their later albums. The keyboard riff towards the end is f***ing sick (as in awesome) in this immense song! This song clearly establishes Winds of Plague as one of the heaviest metal bands around, especially the verse that surrounds the one-minute mark. This wouldn't probably be a band I would listen when I was around 14, but the leeway had pushed slowly until at least 5 years later when I became interested in them. You can go into a World War battle zone with this song blaring from your stereo. I'm so speechless by the message the song is conveying. Their first two albums, Decimate the Weak and The Great Stone War at the best by the band!
My thoughts on some tracks (including my suggested ones):
Haken – “Invasion” (from “Virus”, 2020)
5/5. Starting this playlist perfectly is a song to end my interest in this band in a djent-ish progressive metal bang! It's quite a shame that I'm not feeling interested in this band, because one of the best songs of Haken's newest album (this one) has earlier Leprous vibes that would make some thing of what Gentle Giant sounds like in modern times. This beautifully wonderful songs has lyrics that very well synchronize with the djenty beat, though it might cause some to think of the verses of Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy", which isn't the kind of relation I wanted to think of. The Virus album is great but I actually like their earlier albums more such as Aquarius. But still, good job, guys!
Meshuggah – “Acrid Placidity” (from “Destroy Erase Improve”, 1995)
4.5/5. Wow, an incredible ambient interlude! You might expect Kidman to sing nicely like Burton C. Bell in some Fear Factory ballads, but nope. I guess Kidman just wanted to stay shouting in most of the band's other tracks.
Dream Theater – “Repentance” (from “Systematic Chaos”, 2007)
5/5. This one is suitable for when I feel some slight regret over my recent change of metal interest, like a part of me wishes I hadn't made that move. The low strumming over the 7-minute mark is pretty d*mn chilling. The magical soloing from John Petrucci is one of my favorites from him! This impressive song has still made me grateful for this band to be around to launch my interest in progressive metal. Some might be reminded of Eloy due to the genre's brilliant genius. The song is from the 5-song "Twelve-Step Suite" which chronicles drummer Mike Portnoy's battle against drug/alcohol issues. The concept is so touching, along with song's beautiful simplicity, from the first verse to Pink Floyd-like great ending, all of which are something to love! This is also perfect for helping depressed/suicidal people get better and enjoy life more. I might definitely go listen to the second part of the suite "This Dying Soul" when reviewing this month's Infinite feature release (Train of Thought). Around the 3-minute mark, the instrumentation reminds me of Opeth, before giving me goosebumps with that solo a minute and a half later. Speaking of Opeth, I almost forgot, that band's lead singer Mikael Åkerfeldt, along with Pain of Salvation's Daniel Gildenlöw, Transatlantic's Neal Morse, and various other fellow musicians all speak their own apologies, regrets, and sorrows.
Liquid Tension Experiment – “Hypersonic” (from “Liquid Tension Experiment 3”, 2021)
5/5. John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, and Jordan Rudess, I salute your astonishing talents in both Dream Theater and this instrumental band Liquid Tension Experiment! I might listen to more of this band and write my own lyrics to the music, and this band has awakened the instrumental progressive metal scene while Animals as Leaders is asleep.
Seventh Wonder – “By The Light Of The Funeral Pyres” (from “Tiara”, 2018)
4.5/5. A kick-A song from a masterpiece album! Nothing else to say there...
Entropia – “Poison” (from “Vacuum”, 2018)
3.5/5. Good attempt at an extreme progressive metal epic, but slightly poisonous to me. Again moving on...
Kamelot – “The Great Pandemonium” (from “Poetry For The Poisoned”, 2010)
4/5. This song is from Kamelot's last album with Roy Khan before he left the band, and it has guest growls by Björn Strid from Soilwork, along with some of the best guitar soloing from the band. Those make the song one of the greatest of the album, though the album doesn't quite reach the epic heights of the surrounding symphonic power metal albums. Good to know that this progressive experiment is a one-time move for this band.
Voivod – “Technocratic Manipulators” (from “Dimension Hatröss”, 1988)
5/5. This is pretty short for a progressive metal song, just as long as that Kamelot song, both each 4 and a half minutes, but this Voivod song demonstrates highly creative originality, packing powerful metal punches. Why did I mention the lengths? Because it can be progressive without turning into a 15-minute epic! After a calm dark ambient intro with a few bass touches, the crossover-ish dynamics erupt with speedy riff rhythms and signature snarling vocals. Near the two-minute mark, the song makes a weird evolution into old-school Hawkwind-like spacey guitar rhythms. Many styles and influences all in dexterous textures in only under 5 minutes. A truly awesome feat!
Symphony X – “Evolution (The Grand Design)” (from “V: The New Mythology Suite”, 2000)
4.5/5. Speaking of great feats, this song would make you want more of this band. Great job!
My thoughts on some tracks (including my suggested ones):
Tiamat – “Divided” (from “Prey”, 2003)
5/5. So here I am in a new world without any of that music from a brutal murderous Hell (you know which metal genre I'm referring to), which includes bands like the first two albums of Tiamat along with Hypocrisy and Samael (the latter being more of an industrial black metal band). I still remember this song from the band's later gothic metal era, and it has placed a sad yet pleasant touch into my heart whenever one of my relatives passed away or if I hear about a relationship breaking up, the latter being what this song is about, and kind of a fitting metaphor for my breakup from death metal. Those melodies truly feasted on my soul with the impressive deep vocals in this work of art that is one of my favorites from Tiamat. It's so perfectly expressive, yet I'm already turning away! Moments like the keyboard fiddling and climatic final chorus during the last couple minutes made me wanna reconsider my move out of death metal (which the band was for their first two albums) even though it's too late for mind-changing. The divorce theme fits great in this sad yet remarkable song. That's the gothic metal I like that I can find in other bands, though I miss the gothic metal of Tiamat. A super excellent song to play on both piano and guitar. I'll keep you in my memories, gothic Tiamat....
The Gathering – “Nighttime Birds” (from “Nighttime Birds”, 1997)
4.5/5. Now this is an atmospheric way to close off the metal part of The Gathering's discography, featuring Indian flute especially in that sample in the middle, followed by a slow soloing march. That's the last bit of heaviness you would ever hear from The Gathering.
Corrosion Of Conformity – “Psychic Vampire” (from “Corrosion Of Conformity”, 2012)
4/5. Normally, I'm not into stoner Southern sludge metal, but this song has some good points. Mike Dean's vocals are so underrated! Y'know, if we ever do include Southern Metal as one of the main metal genres but The Fallen having 6 genres is too much and we end up moving Southern Metal along with Sludge Metal and Stoner Metal into a new clan titled The South, Corrosion of Conformity would be a prime example of that clan. We'll see when we get to that bridge, but for now that's not really my style to hold...
Theatre Of Tragedy – “Storm” (from “Storm”, 2006)
4.5/5. This is a great gothic metal song to listen to. The male vocals are wonderful and the female singing is pretty, the latter being good inspiration for Delain whose debut came sometime after this Theatre of Tragedy album. I might be able to sing the male parts if I can ask one of my female friends in the outside world to sing the female parts.
My Dying Bride – “A Secret Kiss” (from “Macabre Cabaret” E.P., 2020)
5/5. I'm glad to submit this song as well, the usual death-doom can help you remember the band's great earlier era. I just realized I haven't done a review to the Macabre Cabaret EP, I should do that soon...
Isis – “Constructing Towers” (from “SGNL>05” E.P., 2001)
4/5. Interesting sequel to "Deconstructing Towers" from the Celestial album. Enough said!
Here's a vote tab similar to my DIS vs DAT threads, based on each member's opinion on what Nintendocore sounds closer to from those 3 tracks:
Metalcore - 1
Non-metal - 1
For those other two tracks, the Sky Eats Airplane track has a nice balance of metalcore and video-game synths in the same way as Horse the Band, and that makes me feel up to checking out more material from Sky Eats Airplane. That band still has good metal points! However, that F***ing Werewolf Asso track is f***ing annoying, basically screaming video-game-synthesized experimental noise. If that band was added to Metal Academy, and I listen to the rest of whichever album has that song and it has the same style as that song, that album would be going to the Hall of Judgement for sure. So... that FWA track is not metal!
Nintendocore: metalcore tracks - 2, non-metal tracks - 1
There might still be hope for Nintendocore to stay in this site! Please feel free to try my trancecore/trance metal experiment, Daniel...
I gave the HORSE the Band track a listen (please disregard the 4 minutes of silence at the end), and sure they have a lot of the video game synths that make Nintendocore, but it still sounds to me like the metalcore that I'm used to, so it might still be metal.
Sorry, Daniel, even then it would take many months to get two small votes. I personally don't mind Possessed staying in The Pit, because while indeed only a few songs are full-on speed metal, some of those elements spread on to the other songs and keep Venom's reign of sound that has inspired the development of black metal up to that point.
Thanks Ben! And good timing too, my departure from death metal (https://metal.academy/forum/10/thread/748) is only a couple days away. All that's left is my submission for Persefone's Core to be removed from the Horde (https://metal.academy/forum/28/thread/688), could you please add that to the Hall during your next judgement submission addition round? Thanks again!
Thanks Ben!
My favourite track from German power metal icons Gamma Ray's highly regarded 1995 fourth album "Land Of The Free". For fans of Helloween, Blind Guardian & Judas Priest.
An epic dynamic classic from an already classic German power metal masterpiece album!
RIP Warrel Dane, still missing you....
Ben, please add the sole Bodom After Midnight EP, Paint the Sky With Blood.
RIP Alexi Laiho
Sometimes a band's vocalist can do so well on his own while still staying in that band. Thrashy heavy metal to delight fans of Queensrÿche, Judas Priest, and Nevermore:
Iced Earth founder Jon Schaffer's arrest and being deemed guilty made me remember this alt-rock band my brother and I used to listen to before my "real" metal interest, in which they ended when their lead singer was arrested and sent to prison for nearly 3 decades for some severely obscene crimes. More info in my reply to this thread: https://metal.academy/forum/9/thread/652?page=1&#topic_6477
One thrash band's end can sometimes be another band's new beginning with the same lineup. Dutch progressive thrash to please fans of Vektor, Coroner, and Megadeth:
My usually alt-rock/post-grunge-loving brother has been enjoying this Trivium song lately, and why not? This song really kicks things up to high gear and has a darker thrash metal-influenced sound:
Darkspace - Dark 4.20 off Darkspace III I (18:24)
Lol! Right on the day 4/20!!
Hey there, Xephyr! Good reviews for my April featured release submissions (DragonForce and Within Temptation), though for the former, your review shows that I was wrong about you enjoying the DragonForce album and you've fallen into the group of Metal Academy members who do not like it as much as I do. Oh well, sometimes I can't please everyone... For the latter, I see you like the Within Temptation album Enter in almost the same level as I do, and while I agree that the instrumental "Blooded" is a fine transition in the middle part of the ending trio of songs, it's quite a struggle for me. Anyway, seeing how you haven't listened to any of their pre-The Silent Force material before your encounter with Enter, there is one album I think you might very well enjoy, Mother Earth! I strongly suggest giving their grand second album a listen, maybe even a review. Maybe you would enjoy this epic masterpiece...
Rip-snorting New Jersey mathcore for fans of The Callous Daoboys, Botch & Rolo Tomassi.
Even though this track is not a highlight for me, it's close to one, being an outstanding sludgy track to have a good grip on you and shake you hard like an earthquake.
OK, one more track from me then that's it for now. If there's one thing anyone who has listened to Devin Townsend doesn't know, unless they're a super-fan who has built up their collection into completion, well here it is: Before his solo debut progressive metal masterpiece Ocean Machine - Biomech, Devin Townsend made up a fictional punk rock band named Punky Bruster and hired a drummer and bassist to bring this story to life in an album titled Cooked on Phonics. The album was later re-issued with the two names combined as Punky Bruster - Cooked on Phonics as a Devin Townsend album, thereby technically being his first solo album! In the story, they started as a death metal band from Poland named Cryptic Coroner, but when disaster strikes at a pub they were performing in, in a hurry they improvised by transforming into the punk band Punky Bruster. The concert became an enormous commercial success and so did their punk music. I would tell you more, but I don't wanna spoil a lot for anyone who hasn't heard it yet, so here's a good song from that album that shows the beginning of the story like I just told you about. Consider this introduction and punk-rocker your sneak peek:
Now I'm gonna answer some not-yet-asked questions in advance here. Q: Do you really think this is one or one of a few songs you like from an album you think is a poor one? A: As a matter of fact, it is, along with "Metal Dilemma". The album itself I would give 2.5 stars because for the music, I'm a metalhead who prefers to listen to anything metal (but not too extreme or mainstream), and if I want something punk, or at least hardcore punk, I have metalcore. For the lyrics, yes they are ridiculously cheesy and comedic for the most part (don't get me started on the toilet humor in the song that has the last 4 letters of the 7th planet in the Solar System in the title), but the concept seems relatable to any band who starts extreme then sells out with a lighter melodic sound thinking they might regret it but the change really pays off, though the success depicted here seems exaggerated compared to most rock bands in the world. It also seems relatable for my own "metal dilemma" right now, but we'll get to that soon. Bonus points!
Q: Isn't this a non-metal album? A: Yes, but it's from a metal artist.
Q: What made you think of this album all of a sudden? A: Well remember that I'm currently planning my departure from death metal forever? Yeah, that reminded me of this album's concept, but instead of turning from death metal to punk in just one concert, I'm currently in the midst of a month-long plan to remove any trace of death metal from my current metal interest so it can be less brutal and more melodic without losing my metal, this whole plan being orchestrated just from the safety of my home. So yeah, that's one part of my personal connection to this concept. The other part is the name, Cryptic Coroner. That reminds me of a real band, Coroner! Sure that band Coroner is from Switzerland (not Poland, but they're both part of Central Europe) and they're tech-thrash instead of death metal, but with their split-up being near the same time as the release of the Punky Bruster album, I started formulating a theory about the end of Coroner's original run (hey don't criticize me, I'll be writing just a theory). And with those two parts of my personal connection, I feel the need to share them to this site, so I'm gonna write a long review for this album based on the release itself, the concept, and my personal connections, and since the album isn't on the site because it's not metal, it would be a separate thread. The review shall be ready to go around early May, so stay tuned...
There were a couple of real duds on Within Temptation's 1997 debut album "Enter" however I have the most issues with this one:
Surprisingly, this song I still think of as one of the most epic pieces of gothic doom I've heard since first listening to this band in my earlier epic metal taste 7 years ago. I guess this is another one of those examples of our metal interests being different from what we are each used to, Daniel.
Dutch gothic metal for fans of Draconian & 90's Theatre Of Tragedy & Tristania.
As one of the only two songs of their debut with only Sharon den Adel on vocals (the other song being "Restless"), those female vocals and symphonic elements helped the band in their direction out of the gothic doom in Enter to the symphonic metal of Mother Earth and most of their subsequent albums...
When I was doing the modern groove metal part of my Ultimate Metal Family Tree band challenge, my Machine Head reviews show that despite a bit of good material, I'm just not really into the band or genre. Not even The Blackening could change my mood, though that album has a few great highlights such as this thrasher written by Robb Flynn to say "Thank you, Dimebag Darrell" and "F*** you, William Grim" (the latter having written an article disrespecting the former):
Thanks Ben!
"Reload" is an even worse album for mine & I think only "Carpe Diem Baby" & "Devil's Dance" are at a reasonable level. Interestingly I actually rate "Fixxxer" as one of the weakest tracks on the tracklisting & for Metallica as a whole.
"Carpe Diem Baby" and "Fixxxer" still remain two of my favorite tracks from Reload, though "Devil's Dance" comes out as just OK for me.
Accept's 1980 sophomore album "I'm A Rebel" was a bit of a dud when taken holistically however the one-two punch of "Thunder & Lightning" into "China Lady" right in the middle of the album is nothing short of magic in my opinion:
I agree that the first two Accept albums are slight duds compare to the rest of their discography, but I give I'm a Rebel a few extra points for beginning the band's transition from the hard rock-like sound of their debut into the sound we consider classic heavy metal in Breaker and especially their perfect album trilogy (Restless and Wild, Balls to the Wall, and Metal Heart). Those two songs above are nice upbeat rockers, though they never reach the fast speed of the band's subsequent albums...
Good review, Daniel! I've struggled a bit with the "Blooded" instumental as well, but "Gatekeeper" was one of my very earliest encounters with the epic slow melancholy of gothic doom at its fullest, along with many other songs in the album, hence my April Fallen feature release submission. I'm also looking forward to seeing what you think of the Dillinger Escape Plan April Revolution feature release, if that's what you're going for next...
Ben, please add the Today is the Day album Temple of the Morning Star. Its avant-garde metal tag now fits the 2:1 RYM ratio (For - 28, Against - 11).
Here's my only favorite from The Body's droning drone album I've Seen All I Need to See. There's still a bit of metal in this song with its heavy riffing, and it could work as part of the Invader Zim soundtrack, much better and doomier than that so-called "Doom Song".
I normally don't listen to too many of our playlists but I'm slowly coming around to checking them out every now and again, and yeah this was an extremely good one. Sadly I had to listen to it on shuffle so it lost a bit of its charm but looking at the listing here I can see that Daniel did a fantastic job structuring it.
I wouldn't get your hopes up for Accept or Todd La Torre Vinny, "Zombie Apocalypse" is good and is a decent showcase of how modern Accept sounds, but I personally found the rest of the album to be an awkward slog. There's still a few killer tracks in there though. Same with Todd La Torre, "Hellbound and Down" is an obvious highlight along with 2 or 3 other tracks but then it gets a bit monotonous.
The only thing I'll say on my end is that I was really surprised by "Symptom of the Universe", couldn't believe I was listening to Sabbath when it came on, and apparently I rated Sabatoge a 3.5 when I went on my short Sabbath kick? That just doesn't seem right, gonna have to go back and fix that sometime this month.
I sense a few good songs for you to share in the new "Great Tracks On Poor Albums" thread, Xephyr... https://metal.academy/forum/23/thread/750
Hey there, Xephyr! You seem like the kind of person who would appreciate the speedy power metal of DragonForce. Why not give their third album Inhuman Rampage (this month's feature release) a listen, maybe even a review? Maybe you would enjoy this as much as I do...
A terribly misguided commercially focused ballad from Devin Townsend Project's 2009 alternative metal album "Addicted".
Agreed!
This track was comfortably the highlight of Devin Townsend Project's alternative metal focused 2009 "Addicted" album in my opinion. The chorus hook is nothing short of spectacular & the way to song-writing builds up to a spine-tingling wall-of-sound crescendo pretty much blew my mind.
One of the few true highlights of the album for me! I definitely enjoy the serene beauty of Anneke van Giersbergen complimenting Devin's melody-craft.
Am I seriously the only Metal Academy member who enjoys this album?! Jeez... Well I’m still happy that my DragonForce submission for this month’s Guardians feature release made it and I get to see what other members of the site think of it, despite the honest yet poor feedback. I’m gonna make sure that while my later feature release submissions have similar historical value for my experience, they would greatly appeal to everyone else. I would sure like to find out Xephyr’s opinion on this DF album.
Thanks Ben!