Thorns - Ærie Descent

Lo-fi black metal of the "only the diehard will like this" type... has a similar guitar tone to the first couple of burzum albums, and a pretty pathetic keyboard. the vocals are the most distinctive thing there - i can't decide whether they're more death- or black-metal oriented. they're pretty cool either way. the song itself is just a slow, plodding, dirge-y snorefest though, tbh. there's a sped up bit about 3/4 of the way through with some potential, but it cuts out as quickly as it started. overall it feels like a collection of half-cooked ideas all mashed together. it has none of the charm or atmosphere of any of the 'classic' 2nd-wave black metal albums in a similar vein. for diehards only.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWtYKReFfk0

I had to use a different link because that one doesn't work in my country, apparently. So I'm using the official video.

Anyway, the label blurb says "bluesy doom metal" and it kinda sounds like Nick Cave meets October Tide with a little bit of Type O Negative. I guess that's never been done before, but there's probably a reason for it. It's just way too mainstream sounding, I feel like I could hear this in a department store. The main riff's not bad, but it just feels neither hear nor there for the most part... like they should either ditch playing metal altogether or ditch the lame vocalist and write some metal. I don't know, this isn't really metal. Yeah, "department store doom" sums it up pretty nicely. Why do all these "doom" bands have such an aversion to actually playing doom? Is the aesthetic marketable but the sound isn't?

Sometimes I feel like Finland is deliberately trying to do horrible, horrible things with metal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbQ9zEAa8dY

Mortuary Drape - Wandering Spirits
A very intriguing and well done intro with an excellent build up leads to an exquisite piece of strangely melodic yet thrashy death/black metal. Really classy stuff, and I'm so glad to be able to hear the bass! Interestingly enough, this is not conventional black/death by any means. Goddamnit, I've never even heard something quite like this before! I also really like the couple of melodic breaks that the song has. Only thing I find to be improvable in any way are the vocals, but that's nit picking because they already fit the music's atmosphere perfectly the way they are. Will definitely look more into this band's output in the future. Thanks Acrobat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tAbcWrrIQU

I rarely listen to thrash anymore, but Vektor gets played a couple times a week, still. Other modern thrash is mostly generic and lyrically inane. Instead of the same boring riffs and thrash-happy lyrics, Vektor lays down some extremely inventive and extreme thrash. That's my favorite song on the album, omg at the intro, and some awesome leads. Not to mention that those vocals always rape, this song's no different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK9jBspDxPs

Teitanblood- The origin of death.
Wow...this is the band everyone jizzes over in almost every portal/impetuous ritual thread? Where do I begin. I'll start with the positive,absolutely massive guitar point,if somewhat unintelligible in some of the faster parts,and decent vocals. The bad: This really does not need to be 9 minutes long as there really aren't that many changes,and the riffs that ARE repeated suck. This is really not my thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dxBiXIS610

Cool! More people checking out Mortuary Drape makes me very happy!!


Acid Death - "Curse of Flesh"

I've heard of this band, but as far as I know, never listened to them. This was really impressive. The introduction is intriguing, with a pretty strange lead over some ominous chording, and you dont quite know where it'll go from there. Turns out to be some heavy thrash with a death metal vocal approach, and an exquisite guitar sound. Very solid riffs throughout, and obviously top-class musicianship. The tempo change at around 2:30 seemed rather abrupt though, but the solo guitar antics afterwards made up for it. The second half of the song almost has a Pestilence (Testimony of the Ancients) feel to it, but the guitar sound is a hell of a lot better. Will have to look into this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov4Iv8ZfW44

Genocide - A Bullet in the Wrong Head", the title caught my attention because it sounds just like the kind of excuse many hitmen/assassins down here use... "oops, that was not the guy we wanted to kill... sorry!"

The starting riff is catchy, and the voice reminds me of a certain band, but I just can't remember the name of the band... (I just checked for spellling errors and no, not a single clue... and no, it is not Candlemass... well, perhaps...) Too bad the accoustic interlude wasn't longer, I think something interesting could have been accomplished here... but the short accoustic parts give this track a certain atmosphere of ...almost sadness. the last two minutes give this song a very headbangeable feeling and well, the vocalist has quite a voice, but the final screams kind of spoils it all. 8/10

...and I was really surprised, that this band is from Japan!!! ...and from the 80's! I'll have to check out more bands from the land of the rising sun, indeed. Good one, Abominatrix, nice taste!

Here's mine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo3Qwepm ... re=related

@ Tezcat:

Witchtrap - Venemous Breath

Witchtrap! Knew I'd like this soon as I saw the name, I got one of their splits a few years ago, it sounded pretty good. Standard though enjoyable riffing in this song, and the vocals are really good! I can't quite put my finger on them but they're well-suited to the music and original enough while being distinctly thrash vocals. Also, the riff that comes in 45 seconds or so sounds like the first heavy riff in Mercyful Fate's "Egypt," only faster and with hammer-ons. I heard the similarity right away, anyway. The drumming is less than extraordinary but not a detractor, they play their part. The small break up/tempo change in the middle was short and unnecessary, but all that comes to mind in terms of criticism. The solo wasn't impressive but a nice little embellishment. All in all, decent enough Colombian thrash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FTyZr2GsNU

Wolfchant - Revenge

Folksy campfire metal for podgy, pasty teens! Hey look, I summed up the modern folk metal phenomenon in one sentence! This strikes me as pretty typical folk metal, in that it's quite ham-fisted, starry-eyed and, well, not very good. Pretty melodies abound, and the instrumentalists are quite tame. The vocals remind me a little of one of the guys from Summoning. The second vocalist seems notably worse, too. They should have just like Protector-nius handle all the vocals. Eh, this stuff is so bland... "hey nonny nonny" seldom works in a metal context, and it does end up sounding like some unfortunate collaboration between Protector and Blind Guardian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEjyjwO4UrY

Heavy Load- Saturday Night.

I like this,super old school and epic. The opening riff got me hooked and the solo was pretty good. The drums where just kind of there,I didn't really hear them do anything interesting,and the vocals were charismatic,not really sounding like another vocalist I can name off the top of my head.

And now for something completely different: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbyDZxO86co&feature=fvsr

the project hate - descend into the eternal pit of possession.

opening thoughts: here's that riff/drumbeat combo that was old by halfway through at the gates' "blinded by fear". oh good, female vocals. OH GOOD, GROWLING! beauty and the beast! for some reason the song just stopped. i think they were trying to build suspense. this sounds like it could be some euro-metal super collaboration, like when kamelot does some shit with the chick from epica. actually, with a name like "the project hate" i'll bet it is. uninteresting, half-arsed gothenburg licks underneath the vocals, which are WAY too high in the mix. then again, that's the idea with this style cause it's mostly aimed at LARPers who want the hot chick out the front in the mix, in all the photos, on the album cover, etc. christ, i hate this. it's like the metal version of when pop music producers create bands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQzkCAWZmKk

To each his own buddy,but to be fair I think you completely missed the point.

Acid Bath- Paegan Love Song.

Well,it's Acid Bath. Everything about this kicks infinite ammounts of ass. From the groovy and catchy riffs (which still manage to be satisfyingly heavy),to the headbang worthy drumming (love the tone), To the sing along vocals with great lyrics that stick in your head. Dying felt so goddamn good today indeed.

*Edit,in my excitement,i forgot to post a song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqDbvkMkwUA

Behexen - Christ Forever Die
Okay, I might not be the most appropiate person when it comes to criticizing black metal, as it's not exactly my genre of choice, but that was just lousy. Guitars that are barely more than white noise, predictable songwriting, boring drumming, and an annoying vocalist who sounds like he's screaming at the top of his lungs while suffering a throat infection. Then again, a man's garbage is another man's treasure, but I just can't really see the attractive on this. I mean damn, the production is not even THAT bad, but the music itself is basically unlistenable for me. Sorry people, but this amount of tremolo picking and minimalism is not something I can handle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBhJwYmdRmw

I agree that by the blessing is better,but rituale was one of the first black metal records I got into,and I've never minded raw production. I like everything they've done really,they tend to have some of the best riffs of this kind of BM. On a related note,this thread is awesome. One of the few that actually promulgates interesting discussion.

Dan Swano - Melissa (Mercyful Fate cover)

I've not knowingly listened to anything Dan Swano's been in,but judging by the amount of stuff he's touched, I must have at some point. This sounds nice; It's a really interesting interpretation of the Mercyful Fate classic, and sounds tranquil and smooth and creamy as hell in terms of it's soft intro, before becoming a heavier. The vocals were good throughout, but in the heavier part of the track, I can't help but feel that the guitar tone and general production were a bit generic, although probably not to the point of provoking genuine annoyance. All in all, it's listenable to say the least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tannEi0FYq8

Ketzer - Warlust

Yes. Yes. Yes. Riffs everywhere. I love this. I've been listening to a lot of blackened thrash lately (desaster, aura noir, etc) so this couldn't come at a better time for me. Great riffs, about 20 of them, so it doesn't get boring. I particularly enjoyed the half-time thrashbreak at about 3:00. The vocals aren't anything spectacular, but they work very well with the music. Again, the RIFFS are excellent. 9/10 Def going to check this band out! Thanks Ancient!

And now something similar...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1erhN24ZWM

Nekromantheon - Point of No Return

Like the previous song by Ketzer, this is some crazy addictive black thrash, the riffs are catchy and plentiful. At first I found the vocals a bit below par, but that impression quickly left me--they're great and fit the music. 1:10 sounds especially heavy, even with the relatively thin production.
I'm generous with ratings, so 10/10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLmHPOn9eq0

Crucifiction - The Downward Journey
This sounds so bloody raw and downright crude in places, like they were playing right in your basement or something akin to that. But it is genius and has a genuine old school death vibe to it a la Obituary and Morbid Angel around the time of "Covenant". The album is actually fairly recent but the production reeks of 80's death - good if you're sick of over processed death metal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AFbP_wi2pc

Truth or Consequence-Anvil.

Thrash,not my area of expertise but I gave it a go. I thought the guitars overall were pure metal. The tone was great and so were the riffs. Some real headbagnable drums that really drive it forward. That said,I know a lot of people in the metal realm don't put a lot of importance on the vocals,but they drew me out of the song. I didn't think they were shit or anything,but they were kind of bad. With that said,it leads me to check out more Anvil,as this song hasn't made me write them off and it seems like they could have some good stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dh3JdBsBw4

ANOMALOUS - The Seraphim Veil

Quiet clean intro that could, once again, basically lead to anything. Actually when I first heard this I almost thought that I was listening to an Azaghal song. Well, that was totally oft the mark as this turned out to be some modern death metal-ish sttuff with guitars sticking to a general melody idea but widdlyy-weeing around all over the place whenever possible like a genius toddler bouncing off the walls and threatening to break your furniture. Some pretty original lead guitar ideas happening here that add to the dissonance, and certainly the soloing (not the rampant sweeping though) is not like much I've ever heard in this genre, but it sometimes feels as though the two guitarists are working at cross-purposes with each other. Drums are generally too hyperactive and sound like a machine, besides. Vocals are just sort of present, a background snarling animal noise that might be delivered with a great deal of passion, but are relegated to the periphery of the sound picture...not that I really feel this song would be much better if they were more up-front. We get some doomy chording twoard the end that almost seems to build to a mood of some kind, but they just have to end the song with more spastic guitarwork and a wild sweep to finish it off. I don't know, I like some pretty technique-heavy music but I usually feel something there beyond mere ability, while this didn't carry any emotional weight for me whatsoever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oHSyrEvwQg

I get where you're coming from on Anomalous,Abom. That kind of super technical stuff is really an acquired taste,but I think they pull it off better than a band like Brain Drill.

Atrocity- Sky Turned Red.

Another band I used to see mentioned in these forums a lot a long time ago,they seem to have fallen off the radar. With that said,I dig this. It has everything. The bass is actually,gasp,audible! It adds so much to the song. I like how the weird but cool sounding harmonies just keep building and building and them boom old school (and quite silly sounding,I chuckled when they came in) growls. The transition to the doomy part was seamless,and the solo at the end was an unexpected but welcome addition. I'll be buying this record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmZjTyriyVY

Saint Vitus - Living Backwards

The production on the guitars are really, really, really muffled and soft, but that's really my only complaint. The riffs, muffled as they are, are memorable and hook you in, and the vocals are very reminiscent of Candlemass (or is it the other way around, since Saint Vitus came first...?). Overall, a very solid doom metal track, and one I can very easily understand being a classic of the genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTSXu_ksvyM

Paradise Lost - Gothic

A classic doom/death song. It's one of the only Paradise Lost albums I own. Bought it second hand several years ago. Listening to this song immediately wants me to listen to the whole album again, which has been a long time ago. The song is pure, simple genius to me. It has a great atmosphere. Everything just fits. I don't know the rest of their discography that well, but I can imagine this album/titlesong says it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jgwu4abBd8

Ancient Rites - Vae Victus
I kinda lost track of Ancient Rites at some point and this song reminds me why. I really dug Diabolic Serenades at one point, because while they used a more modern production to their style of black metal it still had a low-edged bite. This song is really the next step in the evolution of that sound but not in the way that really sticks with me. It's even more polished, more speedy, but somehow without that bite. It's too tinny and kinda reminds of techno in the galloping parts. I can't really put my finger on why I dislike it, but I think it may be that it focuses needlessly on speed and a symphonic ambiance at the expense of riffs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3zH2nqnTws

Miasma - "Love SOng to a Lost Little Girl"

May as well get this out of the way now; this is a fantastic song. I could have sworn I heard another, more poorly recorded version of this somewhere, but who knows...it didn't sound like this one, and although the sound is a little thin, everything is 100% audible and distinct, so it's pretty much perfection to my ears, except that I think some bass presence (I mean the four-string) could have boosted this tune even higher. Anyway, it's over nine minutes long but really doesn't feel like it, as they throw in massive riff after riff, a whole bunch of tempo changes, leads that captivate with a creepy feeling right from the outset, and some very busy drumming that makes me take notice (this guy is really a hero). I love how the band manages to build this atmosphere of nausea and dread without the use of any gimmicks, horror movie samples or the like (not that I mind such things, of course). I could mention specific riffs but I don't think there's a weak one in the bunch, with the simple but very mean-sounding one that comes in with the first verse and seems to resurface toward the end being one that really gave me a sense of anticipation for the coming vocal attack. The screams at around 7:00 are hair-raising and very evil. A strange noise begins to creep in toward the end and it took me a moment to realise it was the sound of a brooke or stream of some kind, with this coming to dominate the sound at the conclusion, with all instruments fading away except the vocals, which utter a last rite of some sort (presumably to the poor girl of the title)...ending the piece with a kind of disquieting calm.

May as well keep the mood in tact here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HBvYvNzKCk

Fleshcrawl-Perpetual Dawn. Now this is some heavy ass OSDM. Never even heard of these guys. The atmosphere is filthy,the riffs are pure death (lots of chromatics going on) but overall it's really well structured. The vocals are damn cool too. I'm not sure what else to say

8/10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI7GtARLaXs

Ataraxie - Funeral Hymn

Heaviness! Christ, this is just plain heavy. Tasteful melodies as well, and nice reverberating, DEEP vocals - sounds a little like Steve Tucker. This is little too slow for me, but I gotta give this 10 points anyway. I have to admit I've never really heard much like this before - I've heard bands that touch on this sound, but never one that dives head-first into it. So much atmosphere! Even the "fast bit" (term used loosely) has the sound of impending doom. This is the sort of thing I'd listen to while I was otherwise occupied, like writing an essay or working. I'm actually going to look this band up now. ha.

mildly keeping with a doomy theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFPMHG11abM

Glad you like it man. Their second record is EVEN SLOWER. Though I like it as well,they never really touched that first one. Pure doom.

KYPCK - Stalingrad

Way to keep the heaviness going. Great Doom Metal here. The song kept me interested even though the Doom genre is probably my least favorite and the one I am most skeptical towards. The guitar tone is crushing to an almost Bolt Thrower level. Great riffs throughout the song, and the vocals are completely fitting to the whole atmosphere, and I imagine it would make even more sense if I knew what he was saying. I appreciate bands that choose to sing in their native language instead of broken English though.

I like that the guitar stops during the verses; that way the riff isn't overused and it doesn't get boring. I especially liked the riff that starts right around the 3:20 mark, just pure doom riffage right there, can't help headbanging the headphones off my head. Great song. Gonna check these guys out. 9/10

Oops, forgot to post link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewO_030Cq8c

tehfoks:

Wow, I assumed they were Russian, but these guys are Finnish. Singing about a country's past, in that country's language? That's even more impressive. Gotta respect these dudes.

Saviours - Slave to the Hex

heavy metal/rock with clean vocals and a galloping pace suitable for headbanging. Fairly generic but my head is moving! It has sort of bluesy feel to it and might be better described as Rock rather than metal. The vocals are a tad weak but the overall effect is not diminished. Proficient guitar solo took me be suprise and now we're back into the main riff.

A little on the generic side, but I'm not sure how a fan of heavy metal/rock could not enjoy this. Nothing totally original or groundbreaking, but hearkens the sound of early rock and heavy metal similar to Dio but a little more punk rock.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj5yVIyrGmE