Rolling 2023 Metal thread

New Vastum drops today, one of the better death-metal bands currently operating, IMO:

https://vastum.bandcamp.com/album/inward-to-gethsemane

i like them, particularly their last two, but opted not to pick up yet, simply cos I'm slow to listen to anything lately. but maybe I"ll give a listen.

lol at the Incantation parody title

I listened to their previous one a lot. This one seems at least as good on first listen.

Out of curiosity - anyone itt ever order stuff direct from Nuclear Blast? I pre-ordered a few things months ago, with the latest street-date for them being October 27th, but still nothing has been shipped. Perhaps more worryingly, I can't get a response to my email asking for an update. Is this fairly typical for them? Not a big deal if something slipped back or there's a longer delay, just would be nice to have any kind of communication from them.

Yeah, I've bought things from them before — when they reissued the Earthless catalog I bought just about everything. But I think they might have changed webstores since then...and I don't remember them being super communicative, no.

Decibel's top 40 albums of 2023 have been posted:

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2023/11/16/spoiler-here-are-decibels-top-40-albums-of-2023/

Surprised not to see the Godflesh album on there.

This is the fewest I've heard of the Decibel top 40 like ever. That's not a brag, just a weird observation.

I've only heard 10, but four of them were on the list I submitted to The Wire. (I decided to submit an all-metal top 10 for their critics' poll this year.)

I've heard a couple of these. I've mainly defected to power metal.

Solid #1.

might need to see a urologist

looool

https://weirdsciencemarvelcomics.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/iceman-2-featured-image.jpg

Ha!

But yes, shocked by the lack of Godflesh. And KEN Mode.

that ken mode album cover makes me want to crawl out of my skin

re: that Decibel list, I'm kinda shocked to have heard 22 of them.

Nice to see the love for Fires in the Distance and that album by The Keening. Kind of surprised to see the Krieg album that high, it's fine I guess, but really nothing special. Surprised not to see Hellripper, Ulthar or Moonlight Sorcery (haven't heard the new LP yet, but it seems these guys were all the rage) on the list.

Another new Judas Priest song, and yeah, this one rules, too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n5aFASWfDA

that's an earworm and a half

Oh yes: new Madder Mortem single today, new album in January!

It's fun to see in the first week, Decibel entries Horrendous and Tomb Mold in the top 15 of the albumoftheyear site. I had their first album, but totally forgot about the new Godthrymm, which I'm enjoying. As far as epic doom I still prefer Sorcerer - Reign of the Reaper. Not surprised it's missing, there's just so damn much metal that a top 40 can't even come close to covering.

My subscription of Fistful of Metal ran out, and I know they did a top 50. Does anyone have that issue?

Apologies for my year-long silence. Combination of increased job demands, taking care of family with longterm illness and managing 7+ acres of Rancho Bulboso, including an epic endeavor to critterproof under the house. Currently there's skunks getting in through animal fencing and I'm gradually cementing in stone blocks around the perimeter.

The new Plague Rider is sounding to be fantastic, rollicking avant-death

https://plaguerideruk.bandcamp.com/album/intensities

Sometimes I go a few months without listening to them, and I forget just how much pleasure I get from Destruction. Their albums are all basically the same, but as meat 'n' potatoes head-through-the-wall thrash, they're fucking great. I can slip my headphones on, call up any of their last half dozen albums, and just sit there quietly headbanging.

Every time I think I never need to hear another new black metal album, Panopticon comes out with something.

https://thetruepanopticon.bandcamp.com/album/the-rime-of-memory

Digging the Plague Rider, and also the Cruciamentum that came out Friday is impressive.

https://cruciamentum.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian-refractions

Finally got the Fistful list. There's a lot of stuff I wouldn't normally listen to, at least a half dozen albums, but I've got 'em all in a playlist to see what jumps out at me. I totally forgot about KK's Priest.

Warriors of the World: Fistful of Metal's Festive 50

1. Tailgunner - Guns For Hire (Fireflash)
2. Cannibal Corpse - Chaos Horrific (Metal Blade)
3. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags (Peaceville)
4. Obituary - Dying of Everything (Relapse)
5. Doro - Conqueress: Forever Strong and Proud (Nuclear Blast)
6. Enforced - War Remains (Century Media)
7. Girlschool - WTFORTYFIVE? (Silver Lining)
8. Church Of Misery - Born Under a Mad Sign (Rise Above)
9. KK's Priest - The Sinner Rides Again (Napalm)
10. Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the Gallows (Century Media)
11. Metallica - 72 Seasons (Blackened)
12. Enslaved - Heimdal (Nuclear Blast)
13. Urne - A Feast on Sorrow (Candlelight)
14. Bongzilla - Dab City (Heavy Psych Sounds)
15. U.D.O. - Touchdown (Atomic Fire)
16. Cryptopsy - As Gomorrah Burns (Nuclear Blast)
17. Voivod - Morgoth Tales (Century Media)
18. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Slaughter on First Avenue (Rise Above)
19. Sanguisugabogg - Homicidal Ecstasy (Century Media)
20. Memoriam - Rise to Power (Reaper)
21. Raven - All Hell's Breaking Loose (Silver Lining)
22. Skindred - Smile (Earache)
23. Dawn Ray'd - To Know the Light (Prosthetic)
24. Jag Panzer - The Hallowed (Atomic Fire)
25. Deviser - Evil Summons Evil (Hammerheart)
26. Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars (Napalm)
27. The Gauntlet - Dark Steel & Fire (Eternal Death)
28. In Flames - Foregone (Nuclear Blast)
29. Burning Witches - The Dark Tower (Nuclear Blast)
30. Bloodbound - Tales From the North (AFM)
31. Enforcer - Nostalgia (Nuclear Blast)
32. Downfall Of Gaia - Silhouettes of Disgust (Metal Blade)
33. Evile - The Unknown (Napalm)
34. Wallowing - Earth Reaper (Church Road)
35. Power Trip - Live in Seattle (Southern Lord)
36. Tygers Of Pan Tang - Bloodlines (Mighty Music)
37. Nattverd - I Helvetes Forakt (Soulseller)
38. Alcatrazz - Take No Prisoners (Silver Lining)
39. Wytch Hazel - IV: Sacrament (Bad Omen)
40. Uriah Heep - Chaos & Colour (Silver Lining)
41. Overkill - Scorched (Nuclear Blast)
42. Battle Born - Blood, Fire, Magic & Steel (Prosthetic)
43. Air Raid - Fatal Encounter (High Roller)
44. Dying Fetus - Make Them Beg for Death (Relapse)
45. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite (Metal Blade)
46. Night Demon - Outsider (Century Media)
47. Twilight Force - At the Heart of Wintervale (Nuclear Blast)
48. Stoned Jesus - Father Light (Season of Mist)
49. Avatar - Dance Devil Dance (Century Media)
50. The Dust Coda - Loco Paradise (Earache)

>>: 17. Voivod - Morgoth Tales
I'm kinda fascinated by how much I love the PIL cover on this. It is almost note-for-note, which I usually don't go for. But it's a great performance/mix imo and I guest its fun to retroactively recast "ALBUM" as metal. (But of course it always was, I think the similarity of "Home" to Ozzy's "Over the Mountain" is a l'il too pronounced to be coincidence)

Relatedly still digging through the mega target bandcamp dump. glenn, did you ever listen to Coco Moon's "Marble Mouth" not remotely metal, indie rock with touches of trip-hop and noise (there's at least one tune where you could maybe get away with telling someone it's a super obscure old metric b-side) But I think the writing/performances are strong throughout.

Bruce Dickinson's new single sounds like he's fronting Amon Amarth, and I'm here for it.

New Krallice came out today:

https://krallice.bandcamp.com/album/mass-cathexis-2-the-kinetic-infinite?from=fanpub_fb

Fester's Lucky 13: 2023 Year-End Summary
https://fastnbulbous.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/lucky-13-2023-1024x1024.jpg
https://fastnbulbous.com/lucky-23/

Genre Lists:
Heavy Metal | Doom | Metal | Power/Adventure/Epic/Symphonic Dark Romance Metal 

Heavy Metal
1. Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows (Century Media) | USA
2. Sorcerer – Reign of the Reaper (Metal Blade) | Sweden
3. Wytch Hazel – IV: Sacrament (Bad Omen) | UK
4. Legendry – Time Immortal Wept (No Remorse) | USA
5. Restless Spirit – Afterimage (Magnetic Eye) | USA
6. Haunt – Golden Arm (Iron Grip) | USA
7. Green Lung – This Heathen Land (Nuclear Blast) | UK
8. Godthrymm – Distortions (Profound Lore) | UK
9. Blood Lightning – Blood Lightning (Ripple) | USA
10. Dopelord – Songs for Satan (Blues Funeral) | Poland
11. Cardinal’s Folly – Live by the Sword (Soulseller) | Finland
12. Helms Deep – Treacherous Ways (Nameless Grave) | UK
13. Tailgunner – Guns for Hire (Fireflash) | UK

Doom
1. Mansion – Second Death (Mansion) | Finland
2. REZN – Solace (REZN) | USA
3. Sorcerer – Reign of the Reaper (Metal Blade) | Sweden
4. Church Of Misery – Born Under A Mad Sign (Rise Above) | Japan
5. Restless Spirit – Afterimage (Magnetic Eye) | USA
6. Green Lung – This Heathen Land (Nuclear Blast) | UK
7. Godthrymm – Distortions (Profound Lore) | UK
8. Witchskull – The Serpent Tide (Rise Above) | Australia
9. Vanishing Kids – Miracle of Death (Aural Music) | USA
10. Demons My Friends – Demons Seem to Gather (Gravitoyd) | USA
11. Dopelord – Songs for Satan (Blues Funeral) | Poland
12. Saint Karloff – Paleolithic War Crimes (Majestic Mountain) | Norway
13. Cardinal’s Folly – Live by the Sword (Soulseller) | Finland

Metal
1. Witch Ripper – The Fight After the Fall (Magnetic Eye) | USA
2. REZN – Solace (REZN) | USA
3. Panopticon – The Rime of Memory (Bindrune) | USA
4. Church Of Misery – Born Under A Mad Sign (Rise Above) | Japan
5. Tomb Mold – The Enduring Spirit (20 Buck Spin) | Canada
6. Horrendous – Ontological Mysterium (Season Of Mist) | USA
7. KEN mode – VOID (Artoffact) | Canada
8. Wayfarer – American Gothic (Profound Lore) | USA
9. Plague Rider – Intensities (Transcending Obscurity) | UK
10. Cruciamentum – Obsidian Refractions (Profound Lore) | UK
11. Bell Witch – Future’s Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate (Profound Lore) | USA
12. Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific (Metal Blade) | USA
13. Autopsy – Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts (Peaceville) | USA

Power Metal, Epic Adventure & Symphonic/Dark Romance Metal
1. Legendry – Time Immortal Wept (No Remorse) | USA
2. Helms Deep – Treacherous Ways (Nameless Grave) | UK
3. Tailgunner – Guns for Hire (Fireflash) | UK
4. Gatekeeper – From Western Shores (Cruz Del Sur) | Canada
5. Cirith Ungol – Dark Parade (Metal Blade) | USA
6. Iron Savior – Firestar (AFM) | Germany
7. Megaton Sword – Might & Power (Dying Victims) | Switzerland
8. Burning Witches – The Dark Tower (Napalm) | Switzerland
9. Bloodbound – Tales From the North (AFM) | Sweden
10. Within Temptation – Bleed Out (Force Music) | Netherlands
11. Anthem – Crimson & Jet Black (Ward) | Japan
12. Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution – Golden Age of Music (Mascot) | Netherlands
13. Beyond The Black – Beyond The Black (Nuclear Blast) | Germany

Sublation's On the Advancement of Decay is blowing me away this morning. Super shredtastic two-man death metal. Comes out Friday.

https://sublationband.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-advancement-of-decay

Xoth album may be on my top ten after a few listens.

they don't sound like Bal-Sagoth, no, but I feel like they have some similarities in their chord progressions, tempos, and cheese factor that they could be cousins, even though Bal-Sagoth don't really play riffs and lean more on their synths.

feels more like Voivod made a death metal album at times.

but really it just beautifully illustrates what I've always believed, which is that metal bands should embrace camp rather than hide from it.

Finally getting around to some stuff from this year that I'd missed out on..

The Moonlight Sorcery full-length is great fun, blackened power metal that works surprisingly well. Frozen Soul, starts out strong enough but really drags over the back half and their thing starts to wear thin.

My favorite listen of the day is that Great Falls record, wow. Just absolutely insane sludge/post-metal with really good chops and a few songs that get damn near prog like in relative complexity.

oops, meant to insert AmRep noise rock in that descriptor for Great Falls.

metal bands should embrace camp rather than hide from it.

this is such a key point and is part of why bands like Mercyful Fate and Judas Priest and Tygers of Pan Tang and Dio are successful (noting also that all these bands write unimpeachable metal jams, that's primary) but the almost vaudevillian impulse to play to the footlights, the willingness to mug. but there's an important distinction between this and the stage winking camp that passes for camp a lot of the time

absolutely. "winking" at the audience isn't committing, it's a cop-out.

Be like Bal-Sagoth! (I suspect many will disagree w/ me here but well I said it)

I am seriously considering writing a book about American trad/power metal next, but the thing is I'd want to devote a lot of space to what it is about Americans that makes the majority of us reject this stuff as corny.

I have a few friends who I like a lot but I give them crap when they refer to things as "weenie metal" because a) I find the 'extreme metal only' stance to be quite boring and b) "weenie metal" is such a jock bullshit term

I find the 'extreme metal only' stance to be quite boring

SO boring. I saw some dipshit on Twitter today claiming that Van Halen weren't metal. People these days act like metal started with Slayer, or something.

The combination of camp and dorkiness is a big part of the appeal of heavy metal to me - basically "Necropolis" by Manilla Road is the ideal.

i really want to like power metal cuz basically trad metal is my jam forever, and love dio, maiden, etc etc but most of the stuff i hear on this thread or on facebook just has a stench of "eurovision music" to me that i can't get over :/

I'm not really into the "metal that sounds like a pinball machine" style of power metal, to badly paraphrase somebody I once knew who hated Rhapsody. I like power metal that has riffs, but melodic tastefulness as well, and lots of it can have too much of a glimmering sheen and be overproduced for me. particularly a lot of the neo-classical power metal bands.

I like:

Blind Guardian (one could argue that they were more speed metal than power for much of their career)
Helloween (same, but I think you'd have to say they're power NOW, even if not on their earlier stuff)
early Angra (basically Helloween gone Brazilian, with heavier classical influence)
Manticora (they did some high concept album about a serial killer that was good a few years ago, actually had some face-melty riffs on it)
Labyrinth (featuring the original vocalist from Rhapsody, Fabio Leone...or at least, at one point he was with them)
Rhapsody (I didn't say 'of Fire' because lol fuck that, also I haven't heard anything from post-name change)
Gamma Ray (Kai Hansen!)

I hate:

Dragonforce (I don't care if they count, they must be shidded on)

i don't think they are even exactly "power metal", they have some AOR tendencies but I love High Spirits so much

https://highspiritsmetal.bandcamp.com/album/safe-on-the-other-side

Rhapsody of Fire are fantastic. They make me laugh, but in a giddy pleasurable way, not mockery at all. But the stuff I would write about, if I wrote the book I have in my mind, is all along the Dio/Manowar/Armored Saint/Manilla Road/Attacker/Visigoth axis. The kind of thing that still gets described as "heavy metal."

I love pretty much all of that stuff

I've never actually listened to Manilla Road. There's something about the name (why the extra L? Is it vanilla from the Philippines?) and their pretty much uniformly terrible album art that has always kept me away.

Seems like Mark Shelton didn't really know the reason for the name either.

Why the name Manilla Road?

The first drummer for the band, Ben Munkirs, and I were having some beers in his kitchen watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus on a small black and white TV. In our drunken stupor we came up with the name Manilla Road thinking that it meant the road of light. Don’t really know why we hung on to it but we did and so that name of the band.

https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2011/06/manilla-road-interview-with-mark.html

i have a few of their albums, they were also killer live the one time I saw them at a festival

Crystal Logic and Open the Gates are American metal classics!

They were so epic and fun, and Shark was one helluva guy.

Manilla Road were fantastic and had a pretty amazing run of albums in the 80s