The Metal Thread

Katzztar

WEll damn, I didn't know we had a thread for Metal!

I grew up with the classics. I'm talking about way back when Hard Rock and Metal were interchangeable (though today many songs would be under debate if hard rock or metal) = early (well not too early, late 70s) Black Sabbath, Dio, KISS, ect. were all bands I listened to before I was even 10.

My older (by 7 years!) sister kept her record player and albums (gads it was long ago!) in our mom's room and away from me. I never understood why as she got home about an hour and half after school after I did and our mom was off working. So I had a full hour and a half unsupervised that I could go into mom's room and listen to whatever I wanted!

My favorite back then was KISS's 'Double Platinum' album and esp two songs "Beth" (a rare time Peter Criss (the Cat) did vocals) and "God of Thunder".

By my teen years I was listening to Manowar, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth ,Metal Church Warlock and many more
I didn't get into the early death metal much. Heck I can't even remember that one big death metal band that started back then and lasted for some time (by that I mean big time, concerts in sporting arenas and not dwindling down to paly at clubs most of the time)

What genre would King Diamond fall into??

Sakonosolo

Haven't really been into much metal recently but I liked the new Cobalt album. I started out listening to lots of melodic and symphonic stuff but I really can't stand that kind of thing anymore outside of a few things.

Wintermute

@Katzztar:

What genre would King Diamond fall into??

The same genre Iron Maiden and Priest fall into, I guess. Heavy Metal.

@Carmilla:

I found this today~

I feel like a missionary right now. Do you know Ensiferum?

Katzztar

@Wintermute:

The same genre Iron Maiden and Priest fall into, I guess. Heavy Metal.

LOL okay I worded that badly… I wonder what subgenre of Metal King Diamond falls into.
currently 'getting off lazy ass" and reading wiki article on Heavy Metal subgenres

Most of the band's topics for song feature supernatural ect and could fit into death metal. Indeed wiki describes the band Mercyful Fate (a band of King Diamond's before the current self-named) as such.

But when I think of Death Metal I think of the deep guttural vocals like Slayer. King Diamond himself (the singer) has a wide range of vocalizations, from the guttural to high to melodic. Before I would think he was part avant-garde metal and power metal.

The wiki's description =
"Avant-garde metal or avant-metal, also known as experimental metal, is a subgenre of heavy metal music loosely defined by use of experimentation and characterized by the use of innovative, avant-garde elements, large-scale experimentation, and the use of non-standard and unconventional sounds, instruments, song structures, playing styles, and vocal techniques

This does fit King Diamond of the 80s-90s as his vocals were unusual in that the range of pitch and style used/ I guess I'm letting myself be confined to the vocals of Slayer as they helped make the image of death metal back then. Most were guttural vocals save when they …screeched.

Sakonosolo

Slayer isn't death metal. And the topic of the lyrics doesn't make death metal death metal anyway. I can't describe the exact things that make death metal what it is, the general vocal style is kind of part of it, but I'm sure there's more as there are other forms of metal that have similar vocals and aren't death metal. Iron Maiden and Judas Priest are New Wave of British Heavy Metal, which I think is a stupid name but it's a decent categorization. Could probably draw parallels to power metal.

Though of course it seems the metal thread is going to turn into a subgenre circlejerk.

Katzztar

Slayer is styled as thrash metal these days.
But back in the 80s, in the early days the subgenres formation, it was described as a blend of speed (progenitor to thrash) and death metal.
That was when I growing up and listening to Metal, so sorry if I get my bands current subgenre mixed with their past

Wagomu

@Katzztar:

Slayer is styled as thrash metal these days.
But back in the 80s, in the early days the subgenres formation, it was described as a blend of speed (progenitor to thrash) and death metal.
That was when I growing up and listening to Metal, so sorry if I get my bands current subgenre mixed with their past

Slayer definitely influenced death metal, which popped out of thrash, but it was originally a bay area phenomenon, having been named and defined by the band Possessed. It's characterized by a lot of downtuning, distortion and the characteristic vocals. It's much less punky than thrash, though, in sound and execution.

King Diamond and Mercyful Fate definitely should out of the NWOBHM and would best be characterized as heavy metal (which is considered a distinct subgenre now, while metal is the overall genre). Later Mercyful Fate can feel a little thrashy, but the chord structures and writing are far closer to the heavy metal roots than anything else. King Diamond's solo stuff is less thrashy than that.

King Diamond's vocals, while impressive in range and certainly unique in sound, relate pretty well to the falsetto style that a lot of vocalists of the time went after, like Rob Halford.

The sorts of thing he were doing at the time were in line with musical trends, though he stands out for his vocals, lyrics and vast reserve of high quality riffs. When I think avant-garde in metal, I think more like:

[hide]

Avant-garde stuff is much more open to strange and completely alien concepts in the genre, and things get pegged with that term when what they're doing just really sounds off the course from everything else.

I know all the genre distinction sounds pedantic, and it sort of is, but it's helpful to keep in mind when communicating about the music, so I hope this is helpful!

le crystal

I am always horrible in differentiating music genres. Hell I can't even tell rock from metal, let alone what TYPE of metal. Any tips here?

Anyway, here's a Japanese band I like. What category is this?

Katzztar

@Wagomu:

Slayer definitely influenced death metal, which popped out of thrash, but it was originally a bay area phenomenon, having been named and defined by the band Possessed. It's characterized by a lot of downtuning, distortion and the characteristic vocals. It's much less punky than thrash, though, in sound and execution.

King Diamond and Mercyful Fate definitely should out of the NWOBHM and would best be characterized as heavy metal (which is considered a distinct subgenre now, while metal is the overall genre). Later Mercyful Fate can feel a little thrashy, but the chord structures and writing are far closer to the heavy metal roots than anything else. King Diamond's solo stuff is less thrashy than that.

King Diamond's vocals, while impressive in range and certainly unique in sound, relate pretty well to the falsetto style that a lot of vocalists of the time went after, like Rob Halford.

The sorts of thing he were doing at the time were in line with musical trends, though he stands out for his vocals, lyrics and vast reserve of high quality riffs. When I think avant-garde in metal, I think more like:

[hide]

Avant-garde stuff is much more open to strange and completely alien concepts in the genre, and things get pegged with that term when what they're doing just really sounds off the course from everything else.

I know all the genre distinction sounds pedantic, and it sort of is, but it's helpful to keep in mind when communicating about the music, so I hope this is helpful!

Yes, its helpful.

Carmilla

@Wintermute:

I feel like a missionary right now. Do you know Ensiferum?

I do know Ensiferum and like it quite a bit, but I didn't know that particular song, it was good, so thank you :3

kouch_lee

Been discovering a shit ton of good metal lately. It's great when you can find so much stuff that clicks with you. It's always frustrating when you see people raving about the last big thing in metal and you can't get into it, but thankfully I'm getting behind a lot of the hype stuff lately. It's also great how much I'm liking new stuff instead of always looking back at the classics. I feel there's so much great bands doing interesting stuff right now that every time a Gene Simmons comes around saying "rock is dead! no more great bands anymore!" I think he's just an ignorant old man (and I love Kiss).

Some of this awesome stuff includes (but it's not limited to):

Winterhorde. Some pretty tasty orchestral black metal from Israel. Blasty yet melodic. And classy. Very classy.

!

Vektor. Slighty proggy thrash by some very talented young lads. Like, VERY talented. The last album is getting insanely high ratings all around, and I can see why. I like the album overall, but the last three tracks are just. . .insane. Like this one here. The last 3 minutes or so are pure gold.

!

Mistur. Melodic death? Melodic black? I don't quite know. But it's kinda proggy and it's very, very good. Like the song above, the last 3 minutes are godly. You just gotta love a good build up.

!

Haken. These prog veterans are good. While everyone is fauning at the mouth over "The Architect", I'm much more of a fan of this little gem. And it's weird, the 80's stuff should feel much more tacked on and gimmicky (let's face it, it IS gimmicky as hell), but it just. . .works. So much.

!

Wintermute

@kouch_lee:

Mistur. Melodic death? Melodic black? I don't quite know. But it's kinda proggy and it's very, very good. Like the song above, the last 3 minutes are godly. You just gotta love a good build up.

!

Mistur is awesome. There are so many good bands out there today with incredible song ideas. But oftentimes they invent this amazing riff but don't play it out for two/four minutes because it wouldn't fit the genre or they are just ignorant or whatever reason. Drives me crazy, luckily Mistur isn't one of them.

Anyway, some NSFW lyrics incoming, Sanctus Perversum from Belphegor. Imo the most gorgeous iridescent guitar work in Black Metal:

!

Carmilla

I am on Ensiferum and high spirited mood today

Wintermute

Enjoying the new Amon Amarth and Dark Funeral albums right now. I just love how Dark Funeral are stagnating on a high level, awesome album. Even Heljarmadr sounds exactly like Caligula. (Satan will be laughing from his throne)

And Finns be damned, they already created a perfect successor of Ensiferum and Wintersun: Brymir

C_uggs

Finally, something I can relate to (well, since Helloween)

Carmilla

@Wintermute:

And Finns be damned, they already created a perfect successor of Ensiferum and Wintersun: Brymir

I listened to this the day you posted it. I liked it, it is good, but I honestly think it's too simple in comparison of the two.

…

On the other hand, I am completely hooked to Type O Negative. The whole new world to discover is ahead of me :happy:

Wintermute

Welp, thanks to this band I'm on a total thrash metal trip recently. It's like Kirk Hammet moved over to Slayer.

Also this:

!

I must say, my motto is, always ignore trolls and assholes on the internet. But if you just reply with this video without any comment they maybe die on cringe? I think I will use this

Wintermute

Whoo, double post. And oops no metal, just cybergoth. That sounds like metal:

!

Wintermute

Sweet, sweet catharsis

! A friend of mine introduced me to this band. Pretty nice. But, damn, what a complicated name.

kouch_lee

One month left till 2017, and I don't know if there any surprises awating on december.

If not, it might be time to wrap up all this year's releases and prepare a Top list of albums and songs.

Anyone up for this?

Wintermute

I would if I could, but aside from Anaal Nathrakh and Metallica I hardly had time to catch up to something new this year.

Speaking of, Spit Out the Bone is soooo riffy and nostalgic ;_; it has to be my number one pick for best song.

! I'm working on my huge backlog though and bought Holopainen's "The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck", what a fantastic album:
!

Carmilla

@Wintermute:

! I'm working on my huge backlog though and bought Holopainen's "The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck", what a fantastic album:
!

I know right? The last sled is my favourite one. And I love the fact that it's his wife singing~

….

Having Borgir days lately.
I literally get shivers when Vortex starts to sing

Wintermute

Oh I didn't knew that about Tuomas and his wife. Puts a whole new spin on the songs, thank you for pointing it out.

Well and a friend of mine is a big Dimmu Borgir fan and we both agreed that from all the members DB lost, Vortex hurt the most. Thank Satan we can still hear him with Borknagar. I checked out Winter Thrice which came out this year and it's really good.

Carmilla

@Wintermute:

Well and a friend of mine is a big Dimmu Borgir fan and we both agreed that from all the members DB lost, Vortex hurt the most. Thank Satan we can still hear him with Borknagar. I checked out Winter Thrice which came out this year and it's really good.

Yup I was converted by a friend as well. And I have listened to that album too.
My favourite from there

And my personal favourite overall, his voice is really something else.

The Huss

Somehow missed all the good metal stuff this year. Yeah, will check "Albums of the year" lists

Dr. Faust

Meshuggah released their lastest studio album on 7 October, The Violent Sleep of Reason. As i was expecting, the band has already hit and surpassed their peak of creativity, but while the album may not be equal to its predecessors, it is still a very good work, and most importantly the band still remains faithful to who they are and what they've always played.

[hide]

kouch_lee

@The:

Somehow missed all the good metal stuff this year. Yeah, will check "Albums of the year" lists

If I can recommend some pretty trustful end of year lists, it's the ones done by the guys at Angry Metal Guy.

They tend to not suck up to the big names and not let themselves get taken away by trends. Their "Albums of the Month" are usually pretty relliable (though I don't always agree with them), and even though my favorite reviewer, the Angry Metal Guy himself, rarely writes anymore, he never fails to add his take on the best albums of the year.

Needless to say, their 2016 lists are not yet done, but you can go through their best of every month and you'll have a pretty approximate idea of what the final veredict will be.

(IMHO, it's been a pretty amazing year).

Katzztar

@Wintermute:

I would if I could, but aside from Anaal Nathrakh and Metallica I hardly had time to catch up to something new this year.

Speaking of, Spit Out the Bone is soooo riffy and nostalgic ;_; it has to be my number one pick for best song.

! I'm working on my huge backlog though and bought Holopainen's "The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck", what a fantastic album:
!

Metallica has some new stuff out? DAmn, I'm really behind, I just found out that Iron Maiden had a new album, Book of Souls, out last year.

Did I hear correctly that Megadeth and Testament also hoe something new? … I gotta go look for the new stuff.

Wintermute

I think I posted them when I joined here because, well, they are one of the most intense metal bands I've ever discovered. Like Katafalk. May these awesome bands rest in piece :sad:

Wintermute

I don't like the term 'this will blow your mind' but, yeah, Watchtower is epic enough:

Wintermute

I'm thinking about creating a black metal channel on AP (my favourite genre). Every week a clip and a band with descriptions and background. But seeing the Metal thread nearly abandoned here.. I don't know. If it's just for me there is no motivation

C_uggs

I recently found out about Type 0 Negative, I really like the vocal + the lyrics (which is a rare thing for me to enjoy) so I bought the "Bloody Kisses" CD, can't say I enjoyed 100% but I didn't hate it.

Another band I knew but I never listened was Anthrax, I bought the "fist full of metal" album, I am quite eager to listen.

And least, I finally found the "Walls of Jericho" album that I was looking for, now my Helloween colection is compleate.

Wintermute

This song is lit. As any other song from this album, like Altrande Tre and Alt Liv, damn, I recommend all of them. Gaahl and his doods captured the essence of black metal in here, with keybords!

Sakonosolo

The new Ruins of Beverast album is pretty good.

Wintermute

Coming back from vacation with some stupid party metal in my head:

Ekila

I really enjoy the French band Eths, but it sucks that they disbanded :(

Anyways, here is an example of one of their songs:

!

Wintermute

Cloven Hoof 2017, who would have guessed. Awesome album, great song. The old guys presenting the true NWoBHM to young posers :p

Wintermute

Nothing can save the Brexit, no Napalm Death, no Anaal Nathrakh, no Maideeeeennn!!

Johnny B. Decent

Tony Martin is so under-rated as a Sabbath singer, it's not funny:

Wintermute

We lost another incredible metal voice too soon, Warrel Dane

Batoma

@S.C.:

Tony Martin is so under-rated as a Sabbath singer, it's not funny:

I have never given most of the Tony Martin albums their just due. That said, Headless Cross is a fantastic album.

Wintermute

"Gods of violence" is ruling my CD-player in my car for weeks now. Such a great album. Lion with Eagle Wings, Gods of violence…

I'm looking forward to the new upcoming Summoning album. The last one was a little weak and even low key copied the Game of Thrones theme in one song.

Wintermute

Enthroned made a pretty generic Black Metal album with Obsidium. Petraolevm Saliva has a cool riff going on though.

Johnny B. Decent

I heard this on Sirius XM's "Liquid Metal" channel:

Sounds really great!

Peerless_Donut

@C_uggs:

I recently found out about Type 0 Negative, I really like the vocal + the lyrics (which is a rare thing for me to enjoy) so I bought the "Bloody Kisses" CD, can't say I enjoyed 100% but I didn't hate it.

Yes! Another person who knows these guys! They really don't get enough love. Might I suggest looking into October Rust? Bloody Kisses has some great songs but I found that OR worked better as an album (except for Cinnamon Girl…. avoid that song like its the plague).

Wintermute

Best Band- and song name ever:

Johnny B. Decent

Ghost dropped a new single!

Wintermute

Don't know why I waited so long to buy a Kvelertak album

Wintermute

R.I.P. Ralph Santolla, and thank you for raising Death Metal to another level:

Wintermute

Speaking of extreme Death Metal