Yeah, I think they're being pumped out too quickly, I suppose to try and capitalize on the renewed European support while it's there. I hope Mark Shelton decides to slow down even just a little, and maybe that'll lead to an album filled entirely with new classics.

Pantera - Mouth for War

Still damn heavy and intense after all these years. Say what you will about Pantera but they did keep metal afloat in the '90s. They were proud to be metal at a time when Metallica and Megadeth were trying to water down their sound to win the mainstream audience.

Blind Guardian - Live Beyond the Spheres

Disappointing. The performances are largely fine, but the mix totally neuters it - Hansi and the lead guitar are pushed way up front, causing the songs to lose a lot of their oomph and showcasing Hansi's disappearing range. Pretty much found no reason to listen to any of these over the studio versions, unlike with Live.

Pantera - "Power Metal"

Why would any band ever want to disown a song this damn magnificent?

I agree that definitely Zos Kia Cultus and Thelema.6 are their own brand of Behemoth before turning into more intense death metal from Demigod. I'm also one of the few that sort of neglect this one in favour of Demigod, as well. I need to stop that, haha.

Anata - The Conductor's Departure

It's such a shame that the band went through turmoil after this one. This album, especially the first half, is some of the best tech-death out there.

Opium Warlords - Taste My Sword of Understanding

First listen, and it seems like a highly demanding album. Still it's already made an impact. Heavy hammer, with traces (actually more than that) of Reverend Bizarre.

Cradle of Filth - Cryptoriana yadda yadda yadda

Hey, this is not the CoF I remember laughing at ten years ago or so! In fact, this is quite good indeed, especially compared to the sucky new Carach Angren album.

Edit: I could swear that at one point in the final track, Dani Filth bellows the lyrics "I am the lord of the potato world".

Dream Theater - The Bigger Picture

Go big or go home when you go Prog!

Dream Theater - Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle And The Sleeper

Looking forward to seeing these guys in September. I'm not a big fan of DT but I am a big fan of "Images and Words" and they'll be performing it in its entirety during their current tour.

Tank - This Means War

The main riff is the illness. Great solo too. Tank are underrated.

Dalit - Descent

I don't know that I am necessarily a fan of Dream Theater either, but I still like Images & Words well enough, and I love Awake.


Opeth - "When"

Somewhere around fifteen years ago this was the first song I ever heard by Opeth, and for some reason I like it much more now than I did then.

Hypocrisy - Weed Out the Weak (live)

This is easily my favorite Hypocrisy song. Peter is an exceptional harsh vocalist.

Undergang - "Rædselsfuld"

I've tried to get through Undergang's Døden læger alle sår album before, but the production and song-writing is just too mind-numbing. I haven't heard their latest yet, but I've been giving some of their other stuff a shot, and it seems to be better. So far, I've especially been enjoying this song and the song from the split with Anatomia. They seem to do well when writing longer songs with slow, shambling riffs.

Wintersun - 'Winter Madness'

Yes!

AC/DC - Back in Black

This track never gets old. This band never gets old.

Hevisaurus - Juranoid

I forgot about these guys. Education Finnish power metal performed by people in dinosaur suits. Only Finland could produce such a thing.

Converge - Halo In A Haystack

Ehhh you gotta start somewhere I guess.

Blut Aus Nord - The Howling of God

This is the perfect soundtrack for sitting in a dark room and being taken away into the abyss. This album rules.

Therion - "Birth of Venus Illegitima"

For well over a decade I have rarely ventured beyond Vovin in one direction or another, and maybe that's because it's so damn good that I haven't needed to... Whatever the case, "Birth of Venus Illegitima" is still my favorite song by this band.

Galderia - Blue Aura

This is really, really good. Listen to it.

Bolt Thrower - Realm of Chaos

Long live Bolt Thrower!

Bad Brains - Self titled LP 1982

Some good ol american hardcore punk.

Pagan Altar - Cry of the Banshee

One of the most memorable songs in metal - I haven't heard this in maybe five years, and I still remember this iconoclastic riff and Terry Jones' warbly, hypnotic chorus. There's not much out there like Pagan Altar, and Mythical & Magical in particular always entranced me with its blend of 70s rock heaviness and folk leanings. Just one of the most iconoclastic, individual bands in metal.

Distant Dream - It All Starts From Pieces

Atmospheric instrumental post-rock/metal. Lots of great guitar textures. Good music for a mellow mood.

"In A World Of Fear" -
Scale The Summit

Usually I don't like this sort of thing.

Eternal Champion - The Armor of Ire

Really awesome US Heavy Metal!
Makes me want to go back there for some reason.

Moonspell - Under Satanae. I like when legendary things been re-recorded in such way - atmospheric and heavy sound, great compositions.

^^My favorite album of 2016.

Tchornobog - S/T

only halfway through this album and I feel like I'm being devoured. Good stuff.

Warbringer - Shadow From The Tomb

Damn, this shreds. Kinda forgot all about Warbringer but they are solid thrash.

Toxik - Think This

Not a big fan of the vocals, but damn this is some crazy tech thrash, especially for its time. That solo on "Machine Dream" is mind boggling.

Akurion - Yet Ye See Them Not

Just heard this for the first time and I'm very impressed. Always loved Mike DiSalvo's vocals and combined with the excellent musicianship from ex-Neuraxis members, everything just clicks. Can't wait for the full album now.

Fields of the Nephilim - Moonchild

Their most famous song. For a good reason, too. I like how there are always parts I haven't noticed, even after god knows how many listens. That's what makes this song (and most good goth rock) so enchanting, what with all the layeredness.

Cryptopsy - Once Was Not

A sadly overlooked album. I would have loved to have seen where Cryptopsy would've evolved had Lord Worm stayed. This album showed a clear interest in experimentation (without deathcore shit) and pointed to a maturity of their brutal and technical sound. I've only recently listened to newer Cryptopsy (Unspoken King not counting) and while it is very good and Cryptopsy-esque, it still feels like a different. Flo being the only original member just takes it away a little bit. I find it harder to get into the newest stuff. Still enjoy it though.

I will say that the vocals are a little weak. They're not bad at all, I do actually like them, but more guttural and less raspy would've sounded better I think. That said the instrumentation on this album is just top quality. The riffs are insane - fast, technical, heavy, dark, catchy and jazzy all in the one song. Signature Cryptopsy, tbh.

Chance the Rapper - "Finish Line/Drown"

Seriously uplifting shit to improve my spirits after being in a shitty mood. I can feel the Spirit, god bless this dude.

Demontage - Fire of Iniquity

I think Abominatrix is in this band...?

Kollapse - Blinding Light

Some pretty good hardcore here.

Galderia - Blue Aura

Ho-lee shit. The rest of this album is merely serviceable, but this song is astoundingly good. Goddamn.

Megadeth - Captive Honor

Next to 'Sweating Bullets', this has got to be the worst song on "Countdown...". Back in the day, I routinely skipped this track or when I still played cassettes, would fast forward to the next song. Mustaine occasionally makes songs where he uses spoken-word passages that comes off as annoying in its execution. You can find several of these songs throughout Megadeth's career from Countdown onward. And Countdown has 2 of these types of songs (the aforementioned Sweating Bullets being the other). Nauseating.

Iced Earth - Travel in Stygian

Classic Iced Earth track in all of its 9-minute glory.