Dragonforce - Ashes of the Dawn

Not really doing much for me, to be honest. Marc Hudson is just not a great singer and he makes this band sound generic as fuck. Songs are sort of dull overall too.

Turns out there are limits to the interest in a sound based wholly on glossy surface aesthetics and gimmicks - whodathunkit.

edit: Four songs in and it isn't getting much better. "Curse of Darkness" has a super weak chorus.

Insane - Wait and Pray

An ok-ish worship/rip-off of Slayer's Show No Mercy.

Iced Earth - 'The Glorious Burden'

This is quite revolting.

Atlantean Kodex - The Annihilation of Bavaria [2CD Live]

Yet another live album from the band this time to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Enjoyed it a lot but would have much preferred a new studio album.

Helmet and House of Pain - Just Another Victim

This song just has one main riff but it's enough to send your head bopping. The rap part is bearable even if hip hop isn't your cup of tea.

Savage Circus - Of Doom and Death. What a powerful vocal performance!

Mustan Kuun Lapset - Saatto

I don't know what "dark metal" means, but this is pretty cool.


Edit: I'm just finishing the album now and it's really good. I think this will be in my top 10 at the end of the year.

Status Quo- Mystery Medley (live 1986)

An extremely drunk L'amours crowd would mistake the transition from Mystery Song to Railroad as one sick ass thrash break.

Slumber - Where Nothing Was Left

death/doom mastery

Billy Idol - Rebel Yell

awesome song

Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini

I realized that these guys can make pretty much any song flow. It never feels like 6+ minutes, you just listen and enjoy the hell out of it.

^
Soooo good! very simple and very epic, Enslaved are masters at songwriting

Cryptopsy - Dead and Dripping

I've noticed recently that i've drifted away from the most extreme metal genres, but this album still feels as exciting as it was the first time!

Witchfinder General - Death Penalty

This also goes to the "haven't listened enough" -pile. And it's good, full of incredible riffs. Don't agree with the lyrics in the title-track (and couple of others), but can't say the don't fit the mood.

Vinnum Sabbathi - Gravity Works

Finally got this one in the mail. I quite like this! I like the space samples scattered through this, and the riffs themselves aren't slouches. Really interesting album.

Glad you like it, after all the time you spent waiting for it. This and Spaceslug are two "atmospheric" doom records that really caught my ear so far this year.

NP:
Skeletonwitch - Beyond the Permafrost
This album brings riffs by the bucket, throws them in your face and proceeds to beat you to a pulp with said bucket, gurgling something about murdering stuff. What's not to like?

(2000) Eyehategod - Confederacy of Ruined Lives on my way to work.

It's Ok but I fail to see anything spectacular in this.

ABYSSIC HATE - Suicidal Emotions

In the top 5 black metal albums ever recorded, for sure

Bob Dylan - Tombstone Blues

This is a great fucking song.

Bullworth - Day by Day (2008)

First listen to the only album from the French DM band. Enjoying it enough to want to hear it again.

Slayer - Hell Awaits

Sloppy, raw and filthy thrash straight from the depths of hell.

Nefilim - Shine

Quite likely the only time a death metal band ever did a ballad. And it's absolutely beautiful. I mean, it's not surprising, considering the frontman and leader of the band came from a goth rock background, but if you think about it, it's pretty strange.

Ancient Empire - Empire of Man

Damn, this is some great traditional heavy metal!

Weezer - Pinkerton

I've heard this name mentioned a lot around here. Now I know why.

I didn't know they had another omg

Dimmu Borgir - Avmaktslave

Oh how I hope their new album is even a slither as good as this song is.

Carcass- "Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System".

Huh, according to every person ever, I'm supposed to hate this album. So weird though, it almost as though I'm enjoying this. Hell it's almost as if I enjoy all eras of Carcass in their own ways or something.

Pukelization - Bury Bones and Construct

This Japanese-Australian band deserves more than the brutal death metal labelled on them. Their riffs are more complex and technical than your ordinary BDM act.

Yeah, took ages to get to me - much longer than normal. But I heard it yesterday and it's good. I'll have to listen to Spaceslug.


This isn't usually my thing but Abyssic Hate are not too bad.


Haha, you're welcome. I don't know how they compare, though.

Hideous Divinity - Adveniens

Definitely beats Hour of Penance this year. Really punishing stuff.

Dream Theater - Under A Glass Moon

Images and Words continue to be superior to the rest of the DT catalogue.

Beherit - Summerlands

Oriental flutes, seagulls, a trip hop beat and spacey ambience all together in a single song. on a raw black metal album.

The border between awesomeness and retardness has never been so thin

Pallbearer - Heartless

Third play and its still doing nothing for me. Despite the rave reviews I'm wishing I had waited till I heard the album before ordering. Seems to be less doom and more old fashioned progressive rock.

Black Sabbath - Mob Rules

I'm thankful they gave us albums like this.

It's Ok, but falls short for Carcass's standards.

(2017) Nokturnal Mortum - Verity.
Getting better and better.
P.S: Folk arrangements are GREAT.

Anaal Nathrakh - Powerslave
Epic and hilarious as the same time. What a cover.

Freedom Call — Over the Rainbow

This isn't even a very popular FC song, it's pribably one of their best though, the build up till the explosion of the catchy as fuck chorus is so good

^ That was always their best song for me, or "Tears of Taragon."

Sacred Oath - Message to the Children

Love the sprawling, narrative Maiden-style galloping rhythm and lead tradeoffs. Brilliant band.

Trying to go through as much of my music library as possible.

A classic came by:

Victorious March
By: Amon Amarth
From: Once Sent from the Golden Hall

Have always loved this one.

They really just are. Especially if consistency is your benchmark. But even if you judge "best black/thrash band" by one individual stellar album...they've got a few contenders. Phenomenal band that will never/cannot wimp out.

Sabbat - Brack Metal Scythe (from Sabbatrinity)

So god damn fun. Incredible energy, great album opener. I have to admit I was a little nervous about their first foray without Temis. I'll always miss his leads but Gezol still pens those killer Venom-on-steroids riffs. They sound gleeful in their evil revelry.

Helloween - Victim of Fate

I love this album.

Ppfff, those people have their heads up their asses. That Carcass album is fucking awesome.

Right now:

Neptune's Spear
By: Testament
From: Brotherhood of the Snake