At a time when the Swedish death metal scene was preparing for the soon to emerge Gothenburg metal, the largely overlooked death metal band Cemetary found themselves on a path from the raw death metal played on their debut to gothic metal, which will be found on their later albums. Godless Beauty is their transition album on this path. It is more melodic and not as raw as the debut, yet it still exhibits the death metal grounds from where they started and which would mostly vanish already with the succeeding album. This is their opus magnum. It is one of the most overlooked death metal albums from that era. And it has been released 30 years ago. We haven't seen any new albums from this band during the last 18 years. But they seem to be back in the studios and early this year they announced a new album. While we certainly cannot expect another Godless Beauty to come, it would be nice to at least see a transition back to where they came from.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: ScreamingSteelUS, nikarg, Starvynth

Khanate returned with a new album after 14 years. A return to the stage has been promised and the label announced re-issues for the first two albums. The stars aligned themselves perfectly so that you, Metalstormer, can ruin your whole weekend with what I think it’s the band’s masterpiece. I’m talking about their sophomore record, Things Viral, which turns 20 years today. This is when the drone super-group deconstructed the foundations of sludge metal from their debut, in order to transport the listener to a far more surreal landscape of horror. Some of these viral things include minimalistic song structures, waves of feedback, ultra-low bass, unpredictable drumming, unnerving electronic effects, and a terrifying vocal performance. Khanate mastered the concept of torture music from the start. No one came close enough to touch them. No one dared to.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: RaduP, Netzach, Auntie Sahar

This band has managed to get themselves banned in both Germany and Japan for the questionable lyrical content on 2000's Nihil, which still remains the finest performance of our dearly departed Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom, also see: the Metal Storm logo). "Brutal music needs brutal lyrics," as vocalist Mika Luttinen tends to argue, and sure, this album opens with a short blast of a song, the title of which translates into "Pissed To The Utter Maximum", and involves lyrics such as "After I buried you I jerked myself off and shouted that I am god!". Unsavoury indeed, but there is no denying the insane conviction and catchiness of songs like the black power ballad "Blood Is Thicker Than Water", the bass-driven craziness of "Let's Fucking Die", and the unforgettable hardcore/D-beat-cum-black-metal of the classic "Ghettoblaster". Whether you're offended or not by Impaled Nazarene, you can't deny the absolute impact and catchiness on display here, and it's a joy to listen to from start to finish. Such a joy that I have the vinyl framed on my wall. Suomi Finland Perkele! "Ghettoblaster, nerve gas, KILL!"

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Endorsed by: RaduP, nikarg

There is absolutely nothing wrong in copying another band's style as long as you do it well - that's what we call "influence". Mgla sure has a big influence on Non Est Deus, but Legacy sets itself apart with its different melodious aspects, production, and songwriting style. Well, at least in certain parts of the album; quite few parts at that, frankly. But what does a lack of originality matter when the result is so immensely memorable and entertaining as Legacy? I think you know the answer: it does not.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Starvynth, RaduP, Nejde, ScreamingSteelUS

If you are feeling calm and comfortable in your daily life–the situation in the world being what it is and all–and are looking to boost your sense of distress and nervousness, Kong are here to provide. The primary emotion of their music is that of anxiety and restlessness. Quality is for you to judge. I'm just a messenger.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: nikarg

Rezn's Chaotic Divine, from 2020, was as good a cut of cosmic space doom as any. Crunchy riffs, powerful vocals, and trippy, psyched out atmospheres that did more than enough to effectively conjure the "lazy floating" feeling. Here the foursome collab with their fellow trippies in Vinnum Sabbathi, for a sound that sacrifices a lot of the crunchiness and riffs, but in favor of a far more atmospheric, meditative approach. Highly recommended for fans of the more mellowed - out forms of psychedelic music.

TURN ON TUNE IN DROP OUT!

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: RaduP, Netzach

I missed the exact 30th anniversary by a couple of days because I'm still recovering from festival season, but Type O Negative is a band worth ignoring a little delay for. Bloody Kisses may not necessarily be my favorite Type O Negative album anymore, but it was the one I discovered the band through and for a very weird couple of weeks they were my favorite band. Bloody Kisses still suffers from the "way too long for its own good" syndrome that all of their albums have, but at least it has the courtesy of stacking its two greatest songs right after the classic mock intro, and after another instrumental interlude we get the tongue-in-cheek Carnivore-ish "Kill All The White People". It is quite frontloaded, but there's still plenty that's worthwhile in the second half as well.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, nikarg, Redel, Daniell, Yaniv, Netzach, BitterCOld, Starvynth

My favorite Moonspell album features four-fifths of the Sin / Pecado lineup, the harshest vocals Fernando Ribeiro ever recorded, the very first lyrics he ever wrote, the heaviest guitar riffs Ricardo Amorim ever played, and the most haunting sound effects Pedro Paixão ever created - and yet it's not an official Moonspell album.
Confused? Then this is the perfect moment to finally find out what Moonspell's occult twin sounded like and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Dæmonarch's first and only album.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: RaduP, nikarg, Nejde, corrupt

I have always considered Nevermore one of the best bands that have ever existed. 20 years ago they were at the peak of their creativity, releasing three albums in five years that re-defined US heavy power/heavy thrash metal with this being the transition between Dead Heart in a Dead World and This Godless Endeavor.

All three albums are worth checking out, but it’s Enemies of Reality‘s anniversary

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: nikarg, Nejde, Yaniv, Redel, Daniell, Auntie Sahar, Starvynth, Darkside Momo

40 years old today. Congratulations to the biggest metal band of all time and to one of the genre defining albums of thrash metal.

Hit The Lights
The Four Horsemen
Motorbreath
Jump In The Fire
(Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth
Whiplash
Phantom Lord
No Remorse
Seek & Destroy
Metal Militia

Pick your favourite if you can.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Redel, Yaniv, Daniell, BitterCOld, RaduP, nikarg, Netzach

All right, all you beer drinkers and hell raisers, have you heard this classic from the Texas Trio is turning 50. Five. Muthatruckin'. Oh. This album launched ZZ Top into the stratosphere. So while you may have been waitin for the bus all day, Jesus just left Chicago and you can bet he'll be picking you up in some hot rod, accompanied by three smoking hot ladies and blaring La Grange so loud you can hear it all the way down in Texas.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Nejde, RaduP

This version of Morbid Visions (and of Bestial Devastation for that matter) respects the raw energy and relentless brutality of the original take, but it is also an improvement in every possible way; the guitar tone is fantastic, and the guitars are actually in tune now, the vocal mix is excellent, and every riff is clearly heard in a way that one can now finally fully appreciate how high the death/thrash bar was set back in the mid-80s by these Brazilians. The Cavalera brothers took the material of their teenage years and re-recorded it in the present as mature and accomplished musicians, but without compromising its authentic ferocity one bit. With the help of producer Arthur Rizk, they crafted this so successfully that it resets the bar even higher today. And Eliran Cantor’s stunning artwork perfectly reflects how badass this album is.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Yaniv, RaduP, Dream Taster

The news of Descend Into Despair disbanding because they felt like they couldn't make art that was worthwhile for anyone hit especially hard, with them being one of the first bands from my country I discovered thanks to Metal Storm, at a time when my love for extreme doom was barely starting to develop, so they're a band I also hold partially responsible for that. Though out of all the releases I could pick, it is their final one that feels most meticulous, from the ways the synths enhance so much of the atmosphere, to just how much attention was poured in the mix of painting and photography on the cover art, all of it makes the context of the disbandment even more depressing and frustrating.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: nikarg, Starvynth, Auntie Sahar

I bet you haven't heard any Kazakh metal bands. Well, here's your chance to change that. Quantum Loba is a deathcore band from Astana, Kazakhstan. Coming from a country not particularly know for their metal music, which already makes this band quite unique, they play a very atmopsheric, djentier style of deathcore adding to their uniqueness. With deathcore being a somewhat saturated genre these days, Quantum Loba is a breath of fresh air.

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Endorsed by: Starvynth

Is 35 years too long? Back in 1988 Majestic Ryte released a self-titled tape with epic music that resembled Fates Warning’s early days. Fast-forward to 2023, with the same line-up, the band releases their debut full-length, also self-titled. The music here is U.S. power metal with a significant heavy/thrash twist, close to the sound of Sanctuary and Nevermore. The imposing vocals of Greg Tsaknakis vividly bring the late Warrel Dane to mind, and the guitar goes more for power chords and groove, rather than for melody. The album is very heavy, thanks to a pounding rhythm section and modern production, but still epic, even with its proggy and technical touches. It is dedicated to the memory of bassist John Funk, who passed away in February 2022.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: RaduP