As far as Brocas Helm and sound I know they were not gems as far as recording quality goes and I do not expect them to be. I just wish to avoid squashing of dynamics and compression because more often than not it is completely and utterly unnecessary. Brocas Helm's music would sound terrible compressed and squashed I think.

Either way - time to get those albums.

Also:

Wild Dogs - Reign Of Terror

If someone likes tough, riffy, in-your-face and speedy USPM or just heavy metal - you HAVE TO listen to this record. The intensity, the double bass drumming, the attack of the guitars, the vocals screams - sometimes it really rivals shit like Thundersteel and Painkiller as far power and punch goes.

1914 - Gas Mask

A great example of how you incorporate heavy guitar feedback into your songwriting.

The Obsessed - Brother Blue Steel

Hard to find a better riff than this one.Organic and not too messed with guitar sound.
This is how it's done.

Ashes of Ares- The Iron Throne

Huh, this is surprisingly good.

MÜTTERLEIN : Bring down the flames (2021/12/30 - Debemur Morti Productions)

Amazing French post black noise darwave metal (!?)

The Crown - Hell Is Here

Not sure why I've barely played this one, despite being familiar with it for 2 decades.

The Grand Black - "Mother Nature"

Pretty solid Finnish doom metal. You know what you're getting with this kind of thing. A few drone-y parts sprinkled in here and there.

Leprous - Running Low

Leprous made a really cool album that a lot of other music lovers might pass on if they think it falls strictly under "metal"

The Crown - Possessed 13

I didn't like this when it was released, but it doesn't hurt to give things a second chance. I'm enjoying it a lot more this time around. *shrug*

Insect Warfare - World Extermination

Skips by in the flash of an eye....

Impending Doom - Caedes Sacrilegae

Black/death/gothic metal, which is cool; it is cheesy, but also atmospheric just like Cradle of Filth's debut album - somewhat similar at times, but still oh so German. Gotta have some cheese every now and then! It's like watching a 1970s vampire movie...



Same happened to me. Johan Lindstrand is one beast of a vocalist!

Judas Priest - Diamonds and Rust (Unleashed in the East)

Not a live album kind of guy, but I might be in the future. It's not just the guitars being heavier, everything else is supreme too. And Halford... don't get me started on that.

Iskandr - Gezag

Great stuff!

Jerry Cantrell - Mother's Spinning in Her Grave (Glass Dick Jones)

Weird fucking album. But good!

Lord Vicar - Descent

Excellent doom!

Hammers of Misfortune - The August Engine

This is really one of the most progressive metal albums I know - genuinely thoughtful, intriguing song structures, riffs you haven't heard a hundred times. It's just really strong, interesting songwriting.

Maule - Ritual

Pretty good... definitely some rocking energy and the singer's got chops.

Mark Langegan - Whiskey For The Holy Ghost

Lanegan as always is good food for the soul. Love this album. Moody, dark, atmospheric, sad, introspective....

Ossian - Világtalan világ (XXI. század I.)

What an assault of a metal track with intimidating riffs and a great chorus to boot. Judas Priest wish they could write this stuff in the early 00's.

It's one of my favorites from the 2000s.

Yeah, I get that. Cantrell's just a very fine songwriter.

My favourite solo song of his is still "Pig Charmer" and has been for many years.

Memento Mori - Life, Death and Other Morbid Tales

Oddball power/doom, pretty good stuff.

Moonspell - Made of Storm

Love this!
Good to listen to this band again!

Fifth Reason - Within or Without

Quirky, doomy power/prog. Pity this band broke up, they were pretty good. Reminds me a bit of Memento Mori (no Messiah though, unfortunately).

In Solitude - He Comes

Revisiting this amazing album after reading the new autothrall review. He's right, this does sound like a precursor to Tribulation's current sound. A shame they broke up two years after this album without releasing anything else.

I probably should give In Solitude a go one of these days, since I've been getting into Tribulation's recent material lately.

NP: Candlemass - Chapter VI

In Solitude were always kinda interesting but never fully grabbed me... their debut was fun though.

Brocas Helm - Drink & Drive

I'm working in a dive bar by a river right now so this is fitting. The atmosphere is right.

It's remarkable how this 55 minute album goes by like a breeze. They're truly exciting players and writers. Glad I got into em.

My Dying Bride - A Kiss To Remember

The onslaught of saaaaad in this song hits masterfully. That first weepy melody, the dramatic break with the swampy riff and then the violin etc...sigh



YES

NP:

Cro-Mags - Best Wishes

It is truly a shame that SO MANY metalheads sleep on this album. This among the best crossover thrash albums and can stand toe-to-toe with the thrash classics. I am not kidding! It has everything - enought technique and flair in the playing, a streetwise sensibility and the music...my God the music! From ultra-fast thrashers to medium-tempo crushers to the outstanding build of the last song. The production is beyond excellent - the guitar tone is fat and crushing and the drums sound like shots from a fuckin' cannon. The bass sound alone crushed buildings to dust. If you like thrash you really need to listen to this one.

Descent - Gathering

New stuff! Frenzied old school style death/black from Australia. I like.

Mystery Blue - Hell & Fury

This band has been inconsistent - their more recent ones aren't total killers. But this one is good. They just seem to get why old school metal was good... a lot of hooks, lots of careening, galloping riffs. I wish this one had a more full sounding production but it's got a lot of stuff to like. Surely better than almost anything Priest has done since Halford rejoined. Crunchy, propulsive fun. The main guitarist, Philippon, is a real talent - lots of verve and excitement to this playing, a real sense of movement and kinetic propulsion. A genuine fucking talent.

Mystery Blue - Circle of Shame

Not as good as the debut but the stellar fucking guitars are still there. Digging it so far.

edit - nah it's probably as good as the debut at least. This shit is great: https://mysterybluefr.bandcamp.com/albu ... e-of-shame

Blood of Kingu - Sun in the House of the Scorpion

You got to admire a band audacious enough to incorporate Tibetan influences in their metal.

As Divine Grace - Supremature

This album is nowhere near as bad as I was led to believe (it has nothing to do with metal whatsoever though).

Sinister - Doomed

Riffs for days

Pink Floyd - Pigs (Three Different Ones)

Favorite.

Alice in Chains - Get Born Again

Creepy as hell, especially considering that it's one of the two final Layne songs...

To me, the band is dead without him. Not that their newer material is bad per se (it isn't) but I refuse to see it as the same band. Can't help it.

Stone Temple Pilots - Wicked Garden

Just love the drum bit on the intro and that main riff is great. Also love Robert DeLeo's bass playing on pretty much every STP track.

Dark Millennium - Ashore the Celestial Burden

Sounds pretty good so far, I'll have to buy this on my next CD order.

Katatonia - Gateways of Bereavement

Taking as needed for pain

My Kundalini - The Art of Dying

Forgot I had this album. Sounds like a mix of Ghost and Hail Spirit Noir.

Motorhead - Killers

Got in the mood for this because of that senior citizen thread... the ultraheavy attack and pure venom in Lemmy's vocals definitely make it a mood. If anything the super direct meat and potato sound of this one, along with maybe Overkill too, represents the quintessential version of the band to me. Probably cause I heard it so early into my metal listening but even so.