Judas Priest - White Heat, Red Hot

oh ya bud

Mahatma - New Justice

The korean thrashers return nine years after their last album - and much stronger!

Sepultura - "Amen"

Sepultura anticipates symphonic metal? (2:13 to 2:33)

What? Nowhere close.

NP:
Midnight Odyssey - "From Firmament to Forest"

Being a whole disc shorter might help, but this album feels a lot more consistent than Funerals From the Astral Sphere or Shards of Silver Fade.

A Life Once Lost - Something Awful

Psychedelic groove metal?

Obliteration - Transient Passage

These guys are something. It's not enough for 'em to release some of the very best death metal in the 2000s, oh no. They also thrash out as Nekromantheon. There's something deliciously rotten in the state of Norway.

Type O Negative - 'Stay Out of My Dreams'

So, so awesome. Legit one of their best songs.

Tribulation - Crypt of Thanathophilia

Every time i listen to this album my opinion that this album is even better than my beloved swedish classics solidifies: it's a rain of riffs and the high dose of thrash influence pays off incredibly well

It really is. That intro riff always manages to crush my skull every time.


NP: Meshuggah - Nebulous

holy shit this is heavy

Edge Of Sanity - Crimson II

The more refined, more progressive and not as dark successor to one of the best Metal epics ever.

It is just as good as its precursor and one of the best examples of Progressive Death Metal. 43 minutes feels like nothing.

Bon Iver - "Calgary"

Forgot how much I loved this dudes music. I want to check out the album that came out last year, but the album cover doesn't even have any trees on it... doesn't bode well.

Buckethead - Barren Part 1 and 2

Buckethead is on his absolute A game, holy fudge. These new albums are fantastic.

Listening to the same song (coincidental; of course) and I have to agree. He's been on a bit of a roll with these last few pikes.

Firewind - Immortals

I'm halfway through this album, and I must say, it is pretty good. I could see this making my top 10 list at the end of the year.

Anal Cunt - Everyone Should Be Killed

A standout release from that year (1994.)

"1000 Eyes" - Death
WE
ARE
ENSLAVED

NOOOWWWWWW

Overkill - Use Your Head

Oh yes

Slayer - Reign In Blood

Objectively a masterpiece.

Death Worship - Extermination Mass

Relentless.

Theocracy - I Am

One would think that making an 11 minute song where almost every line starts with "I Am" would get boring, but this is probably my favourite Theocracy song from what I've heard of them (last two albums only).

Underoath - 'Illuminator'

Raw, passionate and cathartic. Given the drivel this band used to make this album continues to amaze me.

Cult of Luna - Vertikal II

This was quite nice. I wasn't particularly expecting a lot but the small selection of songs here are a perfect accompaniment to Vertikal. Even "ORO" starts similarly to "The One." This'll definitely get more spins but initial reactions are positive.

Deeds of Flesh - Portals to Canaan

Absolutely love this album. Newer Deeds of Flesh certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea, favouring technicality over brutality, but I like it. Hopefully a new album is realised sooner rather than later.

Brilliant song. One of their best epics. Probably my second fave right behind Mirror.

Forbidden - Infinite

I don't listen to this enough. This is such a tense listen; that may be why I only occasionally put it on.

Ania Dabrowska - Wiosna

Why am I listening to a pop artist?

In Flames - Morphing Into Primal

Whoracle is such a great album... one of the best albums of the Melodic Death Metal movement.

Dismember - Override of the Overture

Maybe "anticipates" wasn't the best term to describe what happens in that passage, but within it, Sepultura incorporated a vocal approach that became a hallmark in symphonic metal four or five years after "Amen's" release.


Black Label Society - "Lords of Destruction"

Zakk Wylde could write some fantastic songs when he actually bothered to compose real riffs and solos.

Hammerfall - (r)Evolution
Pretty deceptive title since this is more of a "back to basics" sort of album after they finally broke the mold and took some risks on Infected, but it's somehow the best album they've done in years. I just finished reviewing Built to Last and I felt the need to remind myself that they actually did have a random spark of inspiration the album prior, and I just can't get over how, beefed up production aside, this just sounds like a time displaced 1997 album. I don't know what happened here, but Hammerfall finally lived up to their reputation like fifteen years after it was fully established.

Machinae Supremacy-Stars Had To Die So You Could Live

Picked up the new album when I saw them live last Friday, seems pretty good so far!

Firewind - Lady of 1000 Sorrows

This album slips a bit towards the end, but this is a quality release.

Delain - April Rain

Dripping with beauty and charm. Also, yes.

I'm sure it's dripping with something.



Ania Dabrowska - Naiwny Marzyciel

Huh?

Onto 'Control the Storm'... I don't even mind Marco in this song anymore.

Near Death Condition - Between the Dying and the Dead

One of the better blastbeat-til-you-drop DM bands. Though, to be fair, they do have a knack for some sweet mid-tempo breaks and nifty solos. Good songwriting too, and excellent organic sound.

Cryptopsy - Lichmistress

So, I've been listening to this album for almost a year, but last night I've only noticed the scream at 2:11 for the first time ever. Scared the shit out of me, what the hell.



Must have something to do with living in the same town as Fenriz. One of the very best old-school worship DM bands.

The fact that Infected is seen as breaking the mold shows how one-note Hammerfall is... Infected was just like any other album of theirs, just with a few slightly slower midtempo songs here and there and a different lyrical twist. That's apparently all it took.

Bruce Springsteen - Backstreets

Can't stop listening to this one... addictive stuff.

When you make it a matter of pride to write the same album seven times in a row, any minor change on the eighth is going to seem world-shattering.

Dismember - In Death's Sleep

I've been listening to this album more than usual lately. Heck yes

oh, that's what you meant... fuck off td at least I don't do so to anything with michele luppi on it


Fleshgrind - Destined For Defilement

Awesome.

Michele... Luppi?

Buckethead - Barren part 1 and 2

Oh my GOD this is so GOOD