Youtube Sessions (V)

Wolfchant - Determined Damnation
2009, NoiseArt Productions

Folkish metal, with harsh vocals and fast, happy melodies. I can't say I loathe them and I do like listening to specific songs now and then. However, this has little effect on me. The music relies on the singer and the guitarist on the most part, leaving the few synths in the background.

Ad Hominem - A New Race for A New World
2003, Undercover Records

Powerful and hateful black metal by this French Genocide worshipper. The only thing I had heard by them was "Dictator - A Monument of Glory" and this album is slightly weaker, but still raw and rich in music. Sounds like the microphone would explode on some screaming moments of Wodhanaz.

Infernal Revulsion - Devastate Under Hallucination
2007, Goregiastic Records
Piece of shit. They should be called Infernal Trigger Use.

Ouroboros - Glorification of A Myth
2011, Self-released

This is mathematically remarkable. A wonderful piece of modern death metal and virtuosic musicianship. Highly recommended.

Thy Art Is Murder - The Adversary
2010, Skull And Bones Records
Lots of good moments for hardcore dancing. It actually is a great album in the deathcore area, for I enjoy most of the songs and a couple of standouts are Laceration Penetration, Engineering The Antichrist, Flesh Oracle and The False Prophet.

System of A Down - Toxicity
2001, American Recordings

I like Needles, Chop Suey!, Science and Toxicity. I truly hate the rest of the album. Including Aerials, I can't stand listening to that particular song everyone's lost their mind over. SOAD's success is huge anyway, but still it's not for everyone. A band does not choose it's fanbase.

Motorhead - Ace of Spades
1980, Bronze Records

Who has a negative opinion about this band?

Morbid Angel - Gateways to Annihilation
2000, Earache Records

A hell of an album. I have some problems with the plastic sound of the drums and the production in general, but that's all. The band was doomed to release lesser records after an ultra massive debut like "Altars of Madness", but they still released good albums, this being one of them. Forget Illud.

Entombed - Wolverine Blues
1993, Earache Records

This is exactly what the title says. A turn into death'n'roll with immense success, that only clouded the minds of the death metal purists of "Left Hand Path". I love them both. Ridiculously catchy riffs everywhere.

Samael - Ceremony of Opposites
1994, Century Media Records
It can be described as the middle ground between the early primitive black metal era and the later more electronic/space metal path that Samael followed. The injection of various sample sounds had already begun with this album and I don't have a problem with that, to be sincere. Another band with a successful genre change.

Youtube Sessions (IV)

Megadeth - Rust In Peace
1990, Capitol Records

To end the Metallica/Megadeth comparisons forever, I think this album is better than anything both Megadeth and Metallica have ever released. The band's best tracks are in here, back when Mustaine focused on the music and not on becoming the next president.

Kreator - Coma of Souls
1990, Noise Records

This is Kreator at its best. Maybe one of their best albums and one of the best thrash metal albums in general. It is a band that has stayed great all these years, but this album was astonishing when it was released, and it still is to this day. The german-accent of English sounds pretty rad as well. Coma of Souls is a thrash masterpiece that has proved itself with time and it is a must for anyone into the scene. Go buy it.

Agalloch - The Mantle
2002, The End Records

A band with a great discography in their eighteen year carreer that has strongly influenced many bands that later followed the same style, and The Mantle is them at their peak. A milestone for atmospheric/dark metal (if that describes what they play) full of ethereal passages with dreary vocals, melancholic acoustic guitars, solid riffs.

In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading
2011, Century Media Records

I was never a fan of this band, I only appreciate their early days for their contribution the the good side of melodic death metal (even though they are responsible for a big part of the shitty one too). Still, I think this as a Century Media-driven, soft, mainstream record with nothing special in it. His voice is clear and sadly, I can understand the lyrics, it's a nightmare.

Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising
2011, Metal Blade Records

In their recent albums, Amon Amarth have added a lot of heavy metal elements in their music. This album is good nonetheless, I really like Johan's vocals and the powerful riffs and solos. Destroyer of the Universe has a really strong chorus that perfectly describes the band's best music, and no, I don't think covering Aerials was a bad idea. I hate the original song anyway.

Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
2004, Epic Records

I came across this album when I was young, back when I started looking into anything that has to with metal. That's why it's my favourite album by them, judging from the fact that I only like specific songs of their discography. Groove on.

Disturbed - The Lost Children
2011, Reprise Records

The same problem that I had with In Flames above, annoying modern metal equal to garbage. Nothing to listen to here.

Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies
2006, Roadrunner Records

I admire this band, on some extent, when they first started playing, they had the enthusiasm, the talent, the originality. This one is a poor album though, and what came later made the situation worse. I won't be listening to it again. It is generally a band I have problems with,  but sometimes like listening to for a few minutes or something. This album is the least attractive to me.

Tenacious D - Tenacious D
2001, Epic Records

I love Jack Black. I love the music of Tenacious D, despite being ridiculous at many moments. Listen to Karate, Fuck Her Gently, Wonderboy, Tribute, Explosivo and you'll get my point. It's true that they owe their popularity to their success (!?) in various movies, but still some of their songs are really entertaining and it reminded me of the randomness of Bloodhound Gang.

Black Sabbath - Paranoid
1970, Warner Bros. Records

No comments.

Youtube Sessions (III)

 

Immortal - Pure Holocaust

1993, Osmose Productions

Some stunningly good melodies in here. Definitely one of the best albums by them without the tinniest imperfection. I love the drum work, and its done by Abbath here, he is up for any spot in the Immortal territory.

Darkthrone - Under A Funeral Moon

1993, Peaceville Records

What a playlist. A milestone for black metal, among the masterpieces Darkthrone released in their early days. The influences of the 80s underground scene are obvious.

Possessed - Beyond The Gates

1986, Combat Records

After a brilliant debut, that influenced many bands in the black and death metal territory, Possessed released another punch in the gut a year later. I love both their albums, but if one would be strict and judge equally, this one does not reach the highness of "Seven Churches".

Exumer - Possessed By Fire

1986, Disaster

A remarkable debut and thrash metal album in general, very well balanced when it comes to the instrumentation and vocals. There was competition in 1986, with Master of Puppets, Pleasure to Kill, Reign In Blood, no wonder why these guys were left behind.

Whiplash - Ticket To Mayhem

1987, Roadrunner Records

Never spent much time on these guys. Not that bad, even though I doubt i'll spin it again. Some slow and clean parts made it boring.

Ulver - Wars of the Roses

2011, Kscope Music

Not my favourite album by them, and there are many.

Agalloch - Pale Folklore

1999, The End Records

Amazing debut by an amazing band, very atmospheric and sorrowful.

Wolves In The Throne Room - Black Cascade

2009, Southern Lord Records

I can't hesitate to tell this is their best album, but it is an entertaining one. I don't mind long ambient parts or the average melodies.

Mystic Circle - Infernal Satanic Verses

1999, Last Episode

I can't listen to the variations of the guitars and bass because all my attention goes to the synths and the varied vocals. Interesting melodic black metal with symphonic elements, sounds like the road Cradle of Filth should follow. A great cover as well.

Stormlord - At the Gates of Utopia

2001, Scarlet Records

This is not my favourite album by them, it has all kinds of interesting sounds but that's the problem, they're too much. The synths are uplifting in some songs, not cool. I would prefer if they didn't add these power metal riffs and synths. I would also prefer the guitars a little higher in volume.

Youtube Sessions (II)

One every month? Ok.

Marduk - Panzer Division Marduk
1999, Osmose Productions

Intense and agressive album. It is the common war friendly side of Marduk, pumped with adrenaline all the way through its thirty minutes. It has some amazing songs like "Baptism by Fire" and "Blooddawn".

Graveworm - When Daylight's Gone
1997, Serenades Records

My favourite album by them. It is of some certain level of beauty, a nice combination of gothic & doom & symphonic black metal. Not much credit would be given to the drum work though.

A Canorous Quintet - Silence of the World Beyond
1996, No Fashion Records

I had listened to this album when i decided to check the whole No Fashion roster, it is one of my favourite labels. These guys play melodic death metal, with some black metal elements, the swedish way. Very nice riffs, neat vocals.

Draconian - The Burning Halo
2006, Napalm Records

This is not a full length album, it is just a compilation, there were not so many choices. I can't say i enjoy their music a lot, but it does not bother me either. Slow doom metal songs with growling vocals, some female clean ones, gothic aesthetic and lyrics.

Motorhead - Inferno
2004, SPV GmbH

Im gonna comment on this album at all. Pure bliss and euphoria.

Black Label Society - The Blessed Hellride
2003, Spitfire

The only song i enjoyed here was Stillborn. I can't get into Zakk Wylde. It all sounds like heavy rock music for fat tattooed Harley Americans.

Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath
1984, Roadrunner Records

If you combine a progressive metal version of Iron Maiden with the evil falsettos of King Diamond, this is what you get. Considered one of the best metal albums ever, i second that.

Nuclear Assault - Handle With Care
1989, In-Effect

These guys never disappoint, and this might be their best album. Thrash and thrash again.

Napalm Death - Harmony Corruption
1990, Earache Records

I don't like all Napalm Death stuff, but this album is amazing. It is very close to old school death metal with the right amount of grindcore in it, its not 100 tracks of short toilet noise. Im fond of the simplicity of the riffs too, overtechnical songs rarely get the job done. Not to mention the guest vocals of Glen Benton (Deicide) and John Tardy (Obituary) in "Unfit Earth".

Behemoth - Demigod
2004, Regain Records

They had fully shaped their own sound with this album. "Conquer All" and "Slaves Shall Serve" are two of my favourite songs by them and they are both here. I kind of dig this album a lot but the dark side of me praises the early era of obscure black metal.

Check:

Part I

Youtube Sessions (I)

If you leave pop-ups and the advertisments, the ads before the videos, VEVO and other sponsors, the policies/rulings on the side, a very good feature of Youtube is its suggestions near the video you are watching. You might believe it's a kid's way to find bands, still i don't trust you have never listened to something interesting that way yourself. Especially if you were born after 1990, you were not around the tapetrading era and you don't hate the internet. I decided to exploit this feature and do something anyone can do, just wander through the videos only via the suggestions. 10 albums, with a random one for a start. Lame or not, it is great fun and you should try it.

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Commando - Sudden Invasion
2008, Grenade Records

God damn these Mexicans! They obviously are old school worshippers but not in a copy-cat manner. Solid album with melodies you have heard before, still played in a unique way. The song "Kill the Posers" reminds me of the Coroner demo i once heard, in my early days of the genre, it is great. The fans will love it. Not over-sophisticated, just raw and plain simple, straight forward thrash metal.

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Bio-Cancer - Ear Piercing Thrash
2012, Athens Thrash Attack

Im familiar with these guys since thrash metal bands to get famous in the greek metal community, as you can see, there is a label from the capital, they have solid bands that still stick to the underground. At least, for now. Again, typical thrash with much harsher vocals than Commando, closer to the old school way of the 1980s, but a little less yelling, more of shrieking.

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Cross Examination - Menace II Sobriety
2008, Organized Crime
Never heard of these guys before. Fast paced thrash with -and it was bound to happen- horrible vocals. Great music, but seriously, the vocals are disturbing and they make the whole thing unlistenable. Skip this band.

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Sleep - Sleep's Holy Mountain
1992, Earache Records

A sudden change. It had Pantera, Metallica, Megadeth, Gama Bomb, The Black Dahlia Murder, i've heard all these a lot of times before, plus this is my favourite album by Sleep. And im not a big fan of them. Anyway, we switch to much slower riffs and thick guitar tunings, high vocals and a trippy attitude. They might as well be pioneers of the genre.

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Pelican - Australasia
2003, Hydra Head Records

Im (almost) always in the mood for ambient/post-metal. To me, the sounds are so full and musical, there are a bunch of experimental elements and weird effects, atmospheric compositions, intriguing titles and artworks, artist material in general. Pelican are no different, in fact they are a mandatory band for everyone into good music. An amazing album.

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Opeth - Heritage
2011, Roadrunner Records

There were several post-rock suggestions of bands that i love (Godspeed You, If These Trees Could Talk) but for some reason i clicked on this. As magnificent musicians as Opeth are, i haven't paid close attention to their late albums (2000 and after), this included. As im listening, i can feel the instrumental awesomeness, they're doing a great work. Im not ashamed to say that i don't like his vocals this time. He's a great singer, but i can not get into them this time.

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Katatonia - Night Is The New Day
2009, Peaceville Records

Here we are. This record is lovable, very lovable. The bitter feeling of melancholy reigns all over these tunes, masterfully composed by a titanic band. Flawless.

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Arcturus - Sideshow Symphonies
2005, Season Of Mist

vortex was in here, and its obvious. I guess this is more of a theatrical attempt on their part, i can't say i will listen to this when i choose Arcturus. If you are not a fan of them, the possibility of falling asleep is high, i'd suggest their earlier albums.

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Windir - Arntor
1999, Head Not Found

The sky splits and throws this album right near Arcturus so that i have no dilemmas what to choose next. Easily one of the best viking metal bands. RIP Valfar.

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Ayreon - The Dream Sequencer
2000, Transmission

Last one for now. I didn't know this band until now, its something like space-related progressive rock/metal from a guy with many amplifiers and free time. I did not touch me, to be honest, even if he's good, its not for me.