Firebird - Wild Honey

Bill Steer's post-Carcass-pre-Carcass return band. I just found out that his other band, Gentleman's Pistols, will be releasing a new album next month.

Iron Maiden- Dance of Death

Spinning through Maiden's discography before The Book of Souls rolls around. Have to say, this song is pretty awesome. The acoustic bits are dreamy, and the riffs sound like some strange spiritual whirlwind. Great track.

Strapping Young Lad - Shitstorm

BastardHead's most recent review of City described that album as what a nervous breakdown would sound like as music. If that's the case, Alien, specifically this song, is what would happen if the person having that nervous breakdown snapped and went on a killing spree.

Same here: Iron Maiden - Wasted Years

It's been extremely difficult to not read the thread, as I'm waiting for the album to come in the mail. I've waited five years for new Maiden; I don't want to ruin it by listening to a cheap leak.

I too am waiting until I get a hard-copy. I guess I had modest (at best) expectations going in, but that thread kinda shot that in the knee-caps. At any rate, I'll wait until I get the CD and make up my own mind.

NP: Volcano "Melt"

Pretty good stuff - I should make a point of checking out their older stuff.

Carcass - Buried Dreams

A while back, I searched for "beginner" death metal albums. Heartwork was the one I listened to first and I've been liking death metal more ever since.

Black Funeral - Ex sanguini Draculae

I had been neglecting this album not because I had better stuff to listen to, but because it was the fact that it actually looked so good that if I had listened to it immediately after getting it, I wouldn't have experienced the thing "the right way".

It's awesome. Very gothic (Edgar Allan Poe gothic, not mushy modern gothic).

Volahn - Dimensiónes Del Trance Kósmico

The Black Twilight Circle contains some very good bands, but Volahn are by far my favorite. Incredibly talented

Mesarthim-Osteopenia

Some nice astral stuff! great atmospheric black metal.

Iron Maiden - If Eternity Should Fail

Someone uploaded a shitty sounding version on youtube. Despite the crap sound i'm currently on my third listen now and i can't wait to hear the song and the rest of the album in all its glory! Only two more days to go.

Outworld - Outworld

While this track is a good one, I can't help but think Outworld could have been much better had they focused on slightly more riff-oriented song writing and less overweening musical sections. Maybe I'll review this at one point.

Perturbator - Dangerous Days

Amazing.

I should try to listen to this band.


I don't consider this a "beginner" death metal album.

Sources to Agonies from (1998) Limbonic Art - Epitome of Illusions.
Checking out their discography.

Falconer - Black moon rising (album)

I love the fact that they Mithotyn'd it the fuck up on this album. Blastbeats suit them well, proven by "Wasteland", which is fucking amazing.

Tate just had some leftovers from Dedicated to Chaos, it seems.

Amenti - Bloodsucking Kissing

They're a Belorussian melodeath band that I recently discovered. The vocalist does Alexi Laiho-style vocals and deeper growls.

Timeless Miracle - The Voyage

The proper way to power metal. Hopefully these guys release another album.

Victory - Standing Like a Rock

Powerful German metal with Herman Frank and Jioti Parcharidis. Not as good as his solo stuff but cool, fun anthem-like stuff.

Barbariancherry "Love Potion No.666"

Not sure how I keep stumbling upon stuff like this. Pretty fun stuff though, at any rate.

Borealis - From The Ashes

I just discovered this band today and they're climbing up my list of favorite bands quickly. The vocalist reminds me of a grittier Tommy Karevik for some reason.

Awesome band, I hope they will release their third album someday. Perhaps the debut is also my favourite one.

The first two albums are great but they rest, mehh. But we usually have different tastes for symphonic bands so maybe you will like the last ones.

Windir-Destroy

I clearly prefer Windir when Valfar used to compose almot all the music but 1184 is still great and Destroy has an amazing second half.

Volahn/Shataan/Arizmenda/ Kallathon - Desert Dances and Serpent Sermons

Almost a perfect split if not for the hilarity of Shataan's vocals.
The songs from the other three are excellent.

Ildjarn - Ildjarn-Nidhogg

This is the only Ildjarn I still listen regularly. The songs with synths are my favorite, but the tormenting of instruments in other songs is cool too.

NP: Iron Maiden - Prodigal Son

Always been a bit of a weak point for me of Killers. Usually get the urge to skip past it but almost never actually do just because skipping songs even when I don't enjoy them is something I have a tough time doing. Just sucks something out of an otherwise "killer" (har har) album for me.

AETERNUS - Slaying the Lambs. True black/death metal at it's best.

Hellveto - Corpse of monolith

I think sometimes about conversations 10 years ago about albums released at that point and discussing which ones would still be enjoyable in x number of years and which would be forgotten or just an underground fad or whatnot. This album definitely makes the list of the former for me. It still has the same effect today as when I first heard it. All that said, I can't say the same for the band's overall discography. Imo In Arms and Autumnal Night were the moments of magic and afterward never really found any other of his albums that lived up to the same standard. Arguably one of those bands anyway that you only really need one or two great albums from.



Slaying the Lambs is not even Aeternus at their best, imo. Ascension of Terror is decent enough I suppose, but they left behind the sound that made them such a great band to begin with. No more majesty left in Ascension of Terror. Give me Beyond the Wandering Moon any day.

Antestor - Old Times Cruelty

Had a discussion with a friend earlier about good Christian extreme metal, and this album and Scrolls of the Megilloth by Mortification came up. The Forsaken is seriously one of my absolute favorite black metal records of all time; that the band are openly Christian is completely secondary to how awesome the music here is.

Cathedral - Jaded Entity

Doom masters. 'nuff said.

X Japan - Art of Life

This should really be one of the go-to songs to listen to test out new audio equipment because the production is absolutely stunning. Seriously among one of the best I've heard. In my case, I just added a new subwoofer, and the way it brings life and literal feeling to those lower frequencies is amazing. The piano solo is also a good test to see how easily you can pick out the different layers. As for the song itself, it's X Japan's magnum opus for sure. A 29-minute masterpiece.

Darkthrone - Graven Takeheimens Saler

Woke up this morning with Soulside Journey still in the cd player from yesterday, put it on again and then decided afterward I'd just keep listening through the rest of the discography today.

Amorphis - Under the Red Cloud, off the album of the same name

Very nice opener; lush melodies, Joutsen pouring his heart out, and some seriously cool solos. Getting a great impression right off the bat.

Nocte Obducta - Nektar - Teil 1: Zwölf Monde, eine
Hand voll Träume

This and Nektar 2 are personal classics. Some of the most impressive displays of black metal I've ever heard. These guys weren't lacking in any area - catchy riffs, very technically skilled drummer, vicious vocals and outstanding compositions and song structures.
They just lost the magic after they reformed in 2011

I'm actually checking that album out. I think Amorphis were better without that dramatic vocalist.

NP: Amorphis - The Four Wise Ones

Pretty melodic death-y...yet I dig this somehow. Odd, but it works for me.

Nechochwen - Skimota

The new Nechochwen album is quite something. An intricately crafted and progressive mixture of folk and melodic black/death metal with a concept about the exodus of the Native Americans. It has shades of early Opeth (Orchid/Morningrise/My Arms Your Hearse) in the guitarlines, clean singing and acoustic guitar and a genuinely involving sound. Well recommended.

I listened to (1999) Limbonic Art - Ad Noctum - Dynasty Of Death recently and did NOT like it.

The Brain Center At Whipples (by Melvins) from (2014) True Detective OST by T Bone Bournett.
I like this and A History Of Bad Men (by the same band) from the same OST.

DragonForce - City of Gold

I can't believe they don't play this live. It's arguably the best song on Maximum Overload.

Behexen - My Soul For His Glory

Great, evil black metal. Amazing riffs and a vicious atmosphere. Finnish elite as far as i'm concerned.

Naaaaah, man! Joutsen's a great fit for the band, me thinks. "Dramatic" is great for metal! :-p

Triosphere - Relentless, off The Heart of the Matter

Frantic power metal, with amazing solos, terrific vocals, and just a touch of modern prog. Kind of like a female-fronted Symphony X, really.

I was listening to Elvenking and I came across this. They remind me Ratt, but with a somewhat competent vocalist.

Edit: Secret Sphere's bassist is also in the band.