Shadowdoom9 (Andi)'s Forum Replies

Once again following the theme of covers of songs from albums in my Ultimate Metal Family Tree band challenge, here's Children of Bodom covering a classic hit from fellow Finnish melodeath band Amorphis:

An epic single from Bring Me the Horizon's last metalcore album Sempiternal that I've reviewed in my Ultimate Metal Family Tree band challenge:

Get those black metal influences out of the Pagan/folk metal zone, this is melodeath's time to shine!

I'm probably not gonna be super into Equilibrium because of their German lyrics and black metal-ish part of their epic viking metal sound, but I'm sure some of you would agree that this is one of the finest, most epic moments in viking metal:

OK, how about this; in order for anyone to lock in a clan via the subgenre challenges, they have to go through at least half of the amount of subgenres in a main genre, plus the main genre itself. How does that sound?

Alternative Metal + 2 of its subgenres

Black Metal + 4 of its subgenres

Death Metal + 3 of its subgenres

Doom Metal + 2 of its subgenres

Folk Metal + 1 of its subgenres

Grindcore + 2 of its subgenres

Heavy Metal + NWOBHM

Industrial Metal + 1 of its subgenres

Melodic Metalcore + 1 of its subgenres

Metalcore + 1 of its subgenres

Progressive Metal + Djent

Thrash Metal + 1 of its subgenres

Ben & I discussed the new features that are slated for this round of developments today & I've gotta say that I think we might be putting some space between Metal Academy & the competition shortly. We'll be heading into entirely new territory in some areas & will be filling the last remaining gaps we have with competitors in others. The clan concept is going to give us a clear edge in some ways & you'll see some things you've been asking for finally coming to fruition too. I'm very excited to say the least!

(First time using emojis here!)

Ben, I hope you're available for one more of my suggestions! I see you added an Atmospheric Sludge Metal clan challenge. I think that serves as a nice bridge to the possible post-metal challenge and clan challenges for the other remaining metal genres. Even though atmospheric sludge is not one of the main genres, that gave me a good idea for a suggestion: Please do clan challenges for the main genres' subgenres! Here's a list of subgenres from the main genres:

Alternative Metal - Funk Metal, Nu Metal, Rap Metal

Black Metal - Atmospheric Black Metal, Black 'n' Roll, Depressive Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Pagan Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, War Metal

Death Metal - Brutal Death Metal, Death 'n' Roll, Deathgrind, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal

Doom Metal - Death Doom Metal, Funeral Doom Metal, Traditional Doom Metal

Folk Metal - Celtic Metal, Medieval Folk Metal

Grindcore - Cybergrind, Deathgrind, Goregrind

Heavy Metal - NWOBHM

Industrial Metal - Cyber Metal, Neue Deutsche Härte

Melodic Metalcore - Nintendocore, Trancecore

Metalcore - Deathcore, Mathcore

Progressive Metal - Djent

Thrash Metal - Crossover Thrash, Technical Thrash Metal

Wow, that's a lot more subgenres than I thought, even more than the main genres! Not only that, some of the bands in those subgenres are already in the main genres' clan challenges. So please ease yourself some time to go through those subgenres when you're ready, and move the bands in those subgenres out of the main genres' challenges to the subgenres' challenges if possible. Maybe that can be your next big challenge project after doing the challenges for those 4 remaining main genres. Seriously I wanna make sure the clan challenges are more suitable for anyone who only likes one or a few subgenres within the main genres, so they don't have to go through the nightmare of reviewing subgenres they don't like in the main genres' challenges, like when I was doing a clan challenge for my former clan The Horde. Please take the time to consider this idea, and thanks in advance!

I did my review, here's its summary:

It's official, I love Blackwater Park! Opeth was the one missing piece of my progressive puzzle ever since I started listening to progressive metal, and now that I've actually listened to Blackwater Park, my interest for Opeth has finally reached the point of listening to them full-time. Now I plan on someday listening to their other albums like Still Life, which seems to had expectations that ended up beyond shattered. Blackwater Park is an album that no other album can match musically. The album has many long progressive death metal songs, and I especially love the 10+ minute epics. There are a couple shorter acoustic tracks, one of which is an interlude. Many of the songs can range beautiful bliss to brutal bleakness. Blackwater Park has some of the best qualities in a progressive metal album and by a progressive metal band. It is an album that fully reveals Opeth's ambitions that make it an electrifying experience. I finally enjoy the one band missing from my progressive metal life. Thank you, Opeth!!

5/5

My personal highlights are "Schism", "The Grudge", "The Patient", "Reflection" & "Triad" .

Those are some of my personal highlights too! "Schism" and "Triad" are good, but in my opinion, not as awesome as the other three.

An excellent epic from one of the more mainstream alt-prog metal bands, Tool. By the power of Fibonacci!

After reviewing Sabaton's Carolus Rex as part of my Ultimate Metal Family Tree band challenge, including their bonus cover of Amon Amarth's "Twilight From the Thunder God", I decided to share the original Amon Amarth song here. While both versions are epic, I think the Amon Amarth version would suit my minor like for melodeath:

Last week I reviewed Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II in the power metal of my Ultimate Metal Family Tree band challenge. This song is outright cheddar cheese that hasn't aged well, and the sound effects aren't worth it. F*** this one and "Rise and Fall"!

Last week I reviewed Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II in the power metal of my Ultimate Metal Family Tree band challenge. This is one of my favorite songs from that album and a legit power metal classic:

Andi, are you already onboard with this one? If not then I'd suggest you get on it.

One of the most incredible mathcore EPs! 5/5. Cheers for the rec, Daniel!

Before I listen to the Irony is a Dead Scene EP again and review it a few days from now, let's run through one of their wild mathcore anthems from a more successful album:

MartinDavey87, I would also recommend Protest the Hero's newest album Palimpsest. I haven't completely listened to that album yet, but upon reading saxystephens' review, I have a good progressive feeling about it. I might dig it once I listen, and maybe you might too!

A belter of an opening track from this Canadian progressive/melodic metalcore outfit. For fans of Jinjer, ERRA & Mutiny Within.

Some of the best melodic progressive metalcore in a storytelling masterpiece album! I still haven't completely listened to their new album Palimpsest yet even after getting it, so that new album shall be put on my "albums to listen to" checklist along TDEP's Irony is a Dead Scene.

Wow, I totally forgot about this album being the January 2020 Feature Release. Well it's been a long time like 6 months, and I've only starting listen to this band in April. Anyway, here's my review summary:

When making a debut studio album, there are some things you need to think about deciding; the feel for the album, the central themes, and each song's style. Give them all some time so you can let the album grow and glow without forcing the beauty. That's exactly what Protest the Hero did! After playing some Happy Go Lucky punk rock, they decided to brainstorm an album and story to compose that's far different, and that took them 2 years. 2 YEARS!! A long time for a 10-song album! However, that's what makes some albums the best, by taking the longest time. Alongside that and their more progressive sound, Kezia is not just an album but also a story, which is what concept albums are, right? It has everything you need for a story; interesting characters, plot twists, and poetic language. There are 3 parts of the story, and each part is in the perspective of a different character with their view in the story. We barely know anything about those characters when we start the story, but as the twisted tale goes on, we learn much more about them song after song. As the story goes on, you get some of the greatest progressive metalcore ranging from chaotic to melodic, and each act is more epic than the last. With all that said, I can absolutely declare that Kezia is one of the greatest progressive metalcore albums I've ever heard. Protest The Hero are some of both the most talented musicians and the most amazing storytellers, greater than most other albums I've heard and stories I've read. I would recommend this album to any music listener and story reader out there. Thank you, Protest the Hero, for this grand-masterpiece. Not to sound like I'm in love with someone, but... I love you, Kezia!

5/5

A long doomy track from Draconian's debut Where Lovers Mourn. This one's for fans of true "beauty and the beast" gothic death-doom, specifically Swallow the Sun and the early gothic death-doom eras of The Gathering and Theatre of Tragedy.

Y’know, now that I think about it, this is starting to get ridiculous. At this point, I don’t know what’s going on in that guy’s head. I mean, really? Using two accounts to cheat the rating system and coming up with an insane lying excuse? Yeah, I’m starting to think that guy has to go. Ben, in case MadManx2084 ends up pulling another strange stunt like that, please ban him. I didn’t wanna have to make that request, but it’s for the best...

Hey! Good timing for you to message me. I'm quite a busy fellow who has been working on my own metal music projects to share around my own state, though I never think of releasing them or uploading them online. I even work on them from home, which is convenient for the time of the virus. I've been using my own Metal Academy account with the motive to rate many of the metal albums I've listened to throughout my years, starting with the ones that deserve 5 stars, meaning that I would even get down to rating albums 4.5 stars, 4 stars, or lower. But because of my tight schedule, I barely have time to use this account to do my rating idea, nor respond to any of these messages. Sorry about that, and I'm sorry if you don't like my rating idea. You think I should delete my ratings? ...Oh why am I asking? I should! Oh that alternate account, AlteredManx02? Yeah, about that... Someone's stalking me! Someone created an account with a slightly different name and slightly different clans, and has the intention of copying my every move, starting with some of my ratings! I even got an email from the person saying that this was just the tip of the iceberg, that the person is planning on stealing my identity and murder me, and that "there could be only one of us." Yikes! Just what is that guy's deal? I deleted that email and emptied the trash. As soon as I find a clear gap in my schedule, I'm gonna track down that stalker and I'll turn whoever that is over to the police. And please DON'T help me, I'm tough and I can protect myself and go solo in this mission. But that doesn't mean you can follow my example. If someone's stalking you and you've had very little experience on how you can protect yourself, don't tough it out, reach out for help. Anyway, I gotta go. I need some rest before I do another project and track down that stalker. I might not be able to respond to your messages, but congratulations! You got a glimpse of Bigfoot. OK bye!

Message from MadManx2084 for you all to understand more of his dilemma.

I just talked to MadManx2084 via private message, asking him what the whole motive behind his actions was, and boy do I have an interesting tale to tell. You might be find this hard to believe, but even though he has a Metal Academy account, he's so busy working on his own metal music projects, even when he's stuck at home during the ongoing virus, though he never intends on releasing them in any way. Apparently, what he has been doing in Metal Academy is rating many of the metal albums he's been listening to over his years, starting with the ones that deserve 5 stars, and eventually he would go down rating albums 4.5 stars, 4 stars, and lower. His tight schedule has made it really difficult to progress through his rating idea or respond to any messages. So he has apologized for what he has done and deleted all his ratings. But the story ain't over yet! This might be pretty unbelievable, but that AlteredManx02 account is stalking him! That account was made by someone with a slightly different username and clans and intended to copy his every move, starting with those ratings. The person who made the account even sent MadManx2084 a death threat email saying that they would steal his identity and murder him. I can't believe it! MadManx deleted the email and emptied the trash. He said that as soon as he's free from his schedule, he's gonna track down that stalker and turn that person over to the police. He has insisted that nobody help him because he's a tough guy who can protect himself and go solo in a mission like that. Guys, stalking is no joking matter. This video below shows someone else's experience with a stalker and how you can avoid that kind of situation:

It's times like that where we have to give someone the benefit of a doubt instead of just threatening to block them. Ben, you did the right thing of banning the stalker account. Who knows what that fake account would've done if they got their way? The lesson is: Don't jump to conclusions and watch out for people with actual criminal tendencies.

My review for Mekong Delta - Dances of Death (And Other Walking Shadows) mentions two of the band's earliest members also from Living Death. What a coincidence! Here's a 20-minute classic(al) progressive thrash metal epic from the album I've reviewed:

Regarding single track albums, I seriously considered including Edge of Sanity's Crimson, but it did feel a bit like cheating.

I would've included Edge of Sanity's Crimson, both I & II, if I felt up to adding in a couple mega-long epics. 20+ minute/single-track album epics are welcome here. I'm trying to make this thread as inclusive as possible.

Need I say more about this dark glam-rock-ish sh*tter?

This epic ballad was originally written about the 30-year war, but that chorus, if you take out the "decades of war" reference, reminds me of how people have made mistakes during this ongoing virus and end up dying, while the survivors avenge the fallen, prevent the disease from reaching them, and help save our world even at dark times.

Ever since Sonny92 started his "What is (are) your favourite non-album track(s)?" thread just now, I feel like reserving my favorite songs that aren't in full-length albums for that thread. I also wanted to update my list again to include a few previously mentioned tracks that I felt bad for not including. So here's another update to my list, still two per genre:

20. The Crimson Armada - Guardians (melodic/technical deathcore)

19. Make Them Suffer - Neverbloom (melodic/technical deathcore)

18. Septicflesh - Persepolis (symphonic metal)

17. Eluveitie - Inis Mona (folk-melodeath)

16. Tiamat - Whatever That Hurts (gothic metal)

15. Type O Negative - Love You to Death (gothic metal)

14. Katatonia - Brave (epic death-doom)

13. Draconian - Death Come Near Me (epic death-doom)

12. Gojira - Flying Whales (progressive metal)

11. Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons (progressive metal)

10. Revocation - Anthem of the Betrayed (progressive thrash metal)

9. Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side (power metal)

8. At the Gates - Blinded by Fear (melodic death metal)

7. In Flames - Moonshield (melodic death metal)

6. Vektor - Forests of Legend (progressive thrash metal)

5. Wintersun - Starchild (folk-melodeath)

4. Within Temptation - Mother Earth (symphonic metal)

3. All That Remains - Two Weeks (metalcore)

2. DragonForce - Through the Fire and Flames (power metal)

Honorable mentions:

Paradise Lost - Gothic (death-doom)

Lamb of God - Laid to Rest (groove metal)

And finally, #1:

Trivium - In Waves (metalcore)

Did you know Mastodon contributed to the soundtrack for the film Jonah Hex? D*mn, I gotta watch that movie...

Here are my top 5:

5. Converge - My Great Devastator

4. Mastodon - Death March

3. My Dying Bride - The Barghest o' Whitby

2. Meshuggah - I

1. Trivium - Drowning in the Sound

Insomnium - "Winter's Gate" (Is this cheating?)

Bell Witch - "Mirror Reaper" (I think this is cheating.)

Dream Theater - "A Change Of Seasons" (This is definitely cheating.)

Opeth - "Blackwater Park"

Blind Guardian - "Another Holy War"

Moonsorrow - "Pimeä"

Gojira - "Flying Whales"

In Flames - "The Jester Race"

Inter Arma - "Citadel"

Wilderun - "Far From Where Dreams Unfurl"

Favorite songs have always been impossible for me to personally nail down, but I figured I'd throw something in here anyway. 

Great list, Xephyr! Though I also had a small "How could I miss this?!" moment when I saw Gojira - "Flying Whales". And don't worry, you're not cheating. 20+ minute epics are welcome here. I'm trying to make this thread as inclusive as possible. Personally, if I had the chance to include a few 20+ minute epics in my list, I would also include Dream Theater - "A Change of Seasons", along with Seventh Wonder's "The Great Escape" and Edge of Sanity's "Crimson I+II".

I did my review already. Here's a summary:

Vektor is way more of a new unique band than a so-called "Voivod ripoff". First off, the instruments really work together with precise drumming, tight riffing, and bass with more than one note per bar. The instrumentation is really cool, but what's really amazing is the vocal range of David DiSanto that's beyond belief. His vocals might remind some of Destruction's Schmier, but his high soaring screams are near-impossible! The guitars are so unique and really stick out in this album. One unique thing that marks a different approach is the F-tuning (a half-step higher than standard E tuning). I think more bands should start tuning their guitars up to F or F# 6-string, or even C or C# 7-string. When they play a riff that sounds familiar (other than the higher tuning), suddenly a different never-before-heard riff smashes into your face, while keeping constantly high quality. What's also pleasant is, the solos are magically placed in fields where you would never expect. But in the parts where you do expect a solo, they are short and end up coming out anti-climatic. However, the guitarists are really skilled and can master them easily. The songs here range from 4 to 7 minute thrashers to 10 to 13 minute progressive epics, and altogether they make Black Future a 98% flawless work of progressive thrash metal art. There are a couple weak points, but those weak points are really tiny flaws and they don't bring down this 5-star rating. With this album, Vektor has reached for the progressive thrash metal stars!

5/5

A good hit from BFMV's shining moments of melodic metalcore:

The highlight of The Dillinger Escape Plan's one-off collaboration with Faith No More/Fantomas/Mr. Bungle/Tomahawk front man Mike Patton. Superbly interesting & unique mathcore.

One of my favorite mathcore bands collaborating with one of the most legendary vocalists out there. So amazing!

I finally got to listen to that My Dying Bride single "The Sexuality of Bereavement", and what an incredible piece of death-doom! Thanks Ben for kind of reminding me to listen this great work of art that I didn't until now.

I did it! I listened to "The Sexuality of Bereavement", and it is indeed an incredible track, one of their best! My newly updated review for The Angel and the Dark River explains what I like about it. Anyway, here's my updated list, again two songs per metal genre:

20. The Crimson Armada - Guardians (melodic/technical deathcore)

19. Make Them Suffer - Neverbloom (melodic/technical deathcore)

18. Septicflesh - Persepolis (symphonic metal)

17. Eluveitie - Inis Mona (folk-melodeath)

16. Tiamat - Whatever That Hurts (gothic metal)

15. Type O Negative - Love You to Death (gothic metal)

14. Katatonia - Brave (epic death-doom)

13. My Dying Bride - The Sexuality of Bereavement (epic death-doom)

12. Persefone - Shin-Ken (Parts 1 & 2) (progressive metal)

11. Nevermore - The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel cover) (progressive thrash metal)

10. Sabaton - Twilight of the Thunder God (Amon Amarth cover) (power metal)

9. Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God (melodic death metal)

8. In Flames - Moonshield (melodic death metal)

7. Vektor - Forests of Legend (progressive thrash metal)

6. Wintersun - Starchild (folk-melodeath)

5. Within Temptation - Mother Earth (symphonic metal)

4. Between the Buried and Me - White Walls (progressive metal)

3. All That Remains - Two Weeks (metalcore)

2. DragonForce - Through the Fire and Flames (power metal)

Honorable mentions:

Paradise Lost - Gothic (death-doom)

Lamb of God - Laid to Rest (groove metal)

And finally, #1:

Trivium - In Waves (metalcore)

Cool list, SilentScream! I'm gonna list some songs from your list that I'm thrilled and surprised about. And I mean the good kind of surprised, not the criticizing surprised.

"Thrilling" songs:

Persefone - Shin-Ken (Parts 1 & 2)

A superb underrated two-track epic.

Katatonia - Rainroom

Also great, though I like "Brave" a little more.

"Surprising" songs:

In Flames - Evil in a Closet

Beginning their move into their current alt-metal era, out of their greater melodeath past.

Anathema - Inner Silence

Beginning their move into their current alt-prog rock era, out of their greater gothic death-doom past.

My top 20 favorite metal songs, two per metal genre:

20. The Crimson Armada - Guardians (melodic/technical deathcore)

19. Make Them Suffer - Neverbloom (melodic/technical deathcore)

18. Septicflesh - Persepolis (symphonic metal)

17. Eluveitie - Inis Mona (folk-melodeath)

16. Tiamat - Whatever That Hurts (gothic metal)

15. Type O Negative - Love You to Death (gothic metal)

14. My Dying Bride - Turn Loose the Swans (epic death-doom)

13. Draconian - Death Come Near Me (epic death-doom)

12. Vektor - Forests of Legend (progressive thrash metal)

11. Nevermore - The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel cover) (progressive thrash metal)

10. Sabaton - Twilight of the Thunder God (Amon Amarth cover) (power metal)

9. Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God (melodic death metal)

8. In Flames - Moonshield (melodic death metal)

7. Mastodon - The Czar (progressive metal)

6. Wintersun - Starchild (folk-melodeath)

5. Within Temptation - Mother Earth (symphonic metal)

4. Between the Buried and Me - White Walls (progressive metal)

3. All That Remains - Two Weeks (metalcore)

2. DragonForce - Through the Fire and Flames (power metal)

Honorable mentions:

Paradise Lost - Gothic (death-doom)

Lamb of God - Laid to Rest (groove metal)

And finally, #1:

Trivium - In Waves (metalcore)

Ok then how about I increase it to top 20 favorite songs to make it a little easier for any member who has tons of favorite metal songs. I'll demonstrate tomorrow...

Another great hit from Swedish melodeath masters Dark Tranquillity:

LOL, this isn't the only time black metal has taken over a popular food company...

Actually looking back at this now, even though Atmospheric Sludge is closer to post-metal than sludge, some of the sludge metal elements that dominated the first half of The Ocean's career can still be found in their second half, both the hardcore and atmospheric kinds. And...well this might sound a little biased, but ever since gaining The Fallen clan, I'm starting to feel kinda uncomfortable about giving up The Fallen position for half of The Ocean's discography, in case one day I feel like expanding my Fallen horizons a little bit into sludge. So now I say we put this request on hold for now, at least until more members have a say in this. The submission is temporaily off!