Requiem

1 in 90. Odds on you getting what you really want for Christmas.

They played 6 songs from 'The Great Cold Distance' when they played in Melbourne and I think 5 from 'The Fall of Hearts'. From my favourite albums of theirs: 'Brave Murder Day', 'Discouraged Ones', 'Tonight's Decision' and 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' they only played 2 songs in total: 'Teargas' and 'For My Demons'. Great songs, but yeah I would have like a few more! Katatonia are one of my favourite bands but I guess live they're not so hot. Jonas sings with his hair completely covering his face all night which gets a little irksome, but I guess it's part of their melancholic schtick.

In many ways I wish I was a teenager in the early 80s to really experience the rise of Iron Maiden and metal in general into a more commercial context. Imagine being there at the birth of 'The Number of the Beast' and all the thrash bands. It would have been amazing.

Good to hear. I worship at the altar of Lovecraft, by the way, so I'm down with all of this.

The only metal song you can think of with keys is 'Home Sweet Home'? Really?? Arcturus, Children of Bodom, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Paradise Lost, Cradle of Filth, Emperor, Enslaved, Dimmu Borgir, Burzum, Satyricon, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Septic Flesh, Dark Tranquillity, Guns n Roses, Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Amorphis, Saturnus, Swallow the Sun, Rapture, Be'lakor, Insomnium, Rainshadow, Moonspell, Moonsorrow, Thyrfing, Ensiferum, Einherjer all have great songs with piano/keyboards from a range of genres and styles, and that's just off the top of my head!!

I was the same as you regarding Amorphis after 'Elegy' - I was really disappointed that they went straight rock in 1998. That is, until they got their 'new' singer Tomi Joutsen from the 'Eclipse' album (2006) onwards. I presume you've heard 'Eclipse', 'Silent Waters' and all those amazing albums. I'm from the 'Tales from the Thousand Lakes' and 'Elegy' vintage, and those two are my favourite Amorphis albums, but their new album 'Under the Red Cloud' comes close, as does most of Joutsen's material. Are you into recent Amorphis? Just amazing. Katatonia used to be my favourite band. They released my favourite album of all time in 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' which I think is the greatest album of any genre of music. Most of the last few albums have left me a little cold, and 'Dead End Kings' was really disappointing, but I thought they did an amazing job with the new album 'The Fall of Hearts'. I was never a huge fan of that chunky Tool style riffing they have on 'Night is the New Day' (dumb title) and 'Dead End Kings' (arrogant title). But the new album is awesome. That track 'Old Heart Falls' is... wow... for someone my age (37) it pretty much sums up my life. What a song.

This thread is as old as Methuselah or however you spell it. The best frontmen as far as entertainment value, for me without a doubt are: Tomi Joutsen (Amorphis) Nygard (Turisas) Hoest (Taake) Maniac - back in his prime that is (Mayhem)

Good broadband connection in the sunken citadel of R'Lyeh, RelentlessOblivion?

Top 5 Bands. I'm presuming 'current' means the inclusion of a band's entire discography. Katatonia Amorphis Paradise Lost Mayhem My Dying Bride

Instant coffee from Aldi. It's pretty sophisticated around here right now haha

Darkthrone (think about it)

Be'lakor - Vessels I'm a huge Novembre fan, surprise surprise. And you're right, 'Ursa' is a really good album - their best since 'Novembrine Waltz' I reckon. 'Novembrine Waltz' is one of my all time favourite albums and I love 'Classica' too. 'Ursa' took quite a few listens before it really sunk in and at first I wasn't all that enthused. But now I really love it. Now playing: Still 'Vessels' by Be'lakor.

That's what's so goddamn funny about it hahaha. That witch guy running around bent over like that. And all the darting out from behind logs and rocks and things. Oh man what were they thinking? I reckon it's one of the funniest things you'll ever see on the internet. And I've been a massive black metal fan for 22 years so there you go. I remember reading an interview with Abbath much later and he was saying that the director just told them to run around in the forest, which he now regrets for obvious reasons. And here is the masterpiece in question:

hahaha, that's brilliant. He's the priest of good taste in metal.

This was originally posted in another thread on this forum, but I thought it was a travesty that the inventors of gothic metal did not have their own thread. Hopefully some PL fans can come here and talk about what they like and don't like about one of the greatest bands in the world. Here's my list of their studio albums from least favourite to best favourite, as well as a brief outline of my thoughts. Please feel free to contribute etc. 15. Believe in Nothing (2001) This album is terrible. Flat, thin, rock that is presumably a response to the lack of mainstream success 'Host' was supposed to have but never did. From the bees on the cover to the emotionless musical pap throughout, this is what a great band sounds like when they no longer care. The first song is pretty good though. Bees on the album cover. 14. Symbol of Life (2002) This is ok, and the band is clearly trying to get a bit of weight back into their sound after the previous two albums, although they still sound a bit lost in the woods. The first two tracks are cool enough but there's not a lot bringing me back to repeated listenings, except for maybe 'No Celebration' which is a great New Years Eve song. Futuristic looking album artwork which is pretty cool, but not very Paradise Lost. 13. Host (1999) The electronic album. Everyone hated this at the time - I certainly did - but I have to say it's grown on me and I can appreciate it a lot more now. The songs are structured like regular PL tracks but all the beeps and squeaks (and haircuts!) are a bridge too far. I'll put this on sometimes and tell myself it's ok. Album cover matches the music, and it's pretty cool. 12. Medusa (2017) This is still fresh from the factory, but I have to say that I'm a bit empty after listening to this. The sludgy guitar tone is very sludgy, the riffs feel a bit bland and I don't get much of a chill or thrill from any of it. It feels more like a grindy sort of Cathedral album along the lines of 'The Last Spire'. Some of this is cool though, like the title track and the opening and closing songs. Overall though, it's not hitting me like these albums usually do. Maybe it will grow in time? The deliberately retro album cover is also a bit underwhelming. EDIT: This album has grown worse, not better, with time. 11. One Second (1997) This is the album that is personally responsible for the wimping out of Amorphis, Moonspell, My Dying Bride, Theatre of Tragedy and any number of bands who now wanted electronic elements in their sounds and to make 'rock' songs. 'One Second' is a cool album for sure and a huge shift for the gothic metal genre. When this came out after DT my friends and I were into it, but it was something of a disappointment. Mercifully, most of the bands listed here have returned to making quality metal again so all is forgiven. It just goes to show how influential Paradise Lost are. They started the genre then changed it and everyone followed them. Don't believe me, check out the dates of these bands' experimental phases. I'm sure you could probably name more bands who also went down this path at the time. The album cover is a (pretty) good idea but I hate that sickly grey colour. 10. Lost Paradise (1990) The death metal album that started it all. Not sure how much I truly love this or if it's simply because it's a PL album, but there's a lot of feeling for this admittedly rough collection of 'songs'. Nick is death growling, the band are youthful and enthusiastic for death metal but still with hints of what would come. Absolutely wacky album cover of a robot-alien shooting a laser into the sky (I think). Those were the days. 9. Tragic Idol (2012) This is a very good album but sounds quite similar to the two albums released prior to it, and although there are obvious differences I thought at the time, and still do, that they needed to change it up a little. It's good but doesn't really have much in the way of classics as far as songs are concerned. Beautiful box set artwork. 8. The Plague Within (2015) A very good album so late in their career. All the band's trademarks are here with possibly my favourite track of theirs 'Beneath Broken Earth' which gives me chills every time I hear it. There's a sense of darkness and rawness here. Great use of minor orchestration to give the rough songs texture. I have cooled on this a little bit since it first came out, but I still really like it. Amazing album cover. 7. In Requiem (2007) The return to metal! When this came out I was blown away and so overjoyed that they were playing this style again. The songwriting is top notch too - definitely metal but with the rock structures that they had been entrenched in for so many years. Excellent production. They're totally inspired and you can tell. Album cover is great and I've got the shirt somewhere. 6. Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us (2009) Title track is a genre masterpiece and the rest of the songs are emotive and atmospheric. 'Last Regret' is also so emotional and wonderful. This is the best of their recent return to heaviness, and mirrors 'In Requiem' as far as production and overall approach is concerned. It's almost 'In Requiem' part 2. The cover art is pretty cool in a medieval way, but it's not evocative and I actually had to look it up just now as I couldn't remember it. 5. Paradise Lost, otherwise known as X (2005) A beautifully polished album that sits between their heavier material and the more melodic. An amazing production and just great songs. If I'm feeling in between, then this is perfect. Nick sounds smooth and sophisticated, Gregor's guitars sound stunning. This might be a bit 'modern' for the denim and leather set, but the bourgeoisie love it. If they released this instead of 'Host' they would be millionaires by now. Great cover artwork but doesn't feel like it relates to anything apart from looking good (like my wife). 4. Shades of God (1992) Really an in-between album but a full blown classic nonetheless. The songwriting here is brilliant and of course 'As I Die' could well be their greatest song. Production is a touch underdone but that is part of its charm. The wonderful artwork is done by none other than Dave McKean. 3. Gothic (1991) The album that created a genre. For 1991 no one was doing this, with a touch of female vocals and a truly gothic atmosphere through a bit of synth. It sounds a little rough by today's standards but the songs are brilliant and there's something really special about the moment in time when this was created. O brave new world that has such albums in it. Simple yet classic album artwork. 2. Icon (1993) A little more robust in sound than DT, this is the first truly polished gothic metal album from the band. A little more metal. They've finally nailed it after shifting (creating!) genres. For 1993 this is so far ahead of its time. 'Embers Fire' is another song for the ages and should be played at everyone's funerals. Excellent artwork and huge fold out inlay. 1. Draconian Times (1995) The gothic metal masterpiece. Perfect production (the drums) and a beautiful vibe throughout. Songs like 'Enchantment' and 'The Last Time' will remain anthems until the end of time. I got this when I was 15 the year it came out, so it's really shaped me. This is what happens when an inspired band touches something really special in the studio and create a sound that could never really be repeated. I get chills every time I hear those opening piano notes... Best album cover of their careers, too.

The only Swans albums I own are 'Soundtracks for the Blind' (scary and weird) and 'Children of God' (haunting and weird). Not sure I really want to delve further unless I'm missing something really special with them. Certainly nothing funny about Swans from what I've heard so far. The best jokes are usually the unintentional, like the video for Immortal's 'Call of the Wintermoon'. Classic stuff.

Yeah, Swans are about as humourless as it gets. Too weird for my taste, really. That 'Bloody Kisses' digipak is glorious. I want it buried with me in my casket. It's no secret that Peter Steele was in a very dark place personally for the last ten years of his life, and you can sort of trace his mental descent through those last albums. A lot of the beauty and elegance was largely gone and the songs are really cold and cynical. Just not my bag.

I wanted to say something about Gorgoroth but I'm on my phone and this person sums up my feelings perfectly. 'QPST' is a huge return to form. What an amazing album. King ov Hell and Gaahl are a couple of falses. Hail Infernus 666.

Apparently not! This was the first time I had ever heard of this theory and felt compelled to say something haha

Edit: I've started a Paradise Lost thread where I've moved (and added to!) my list. They deserve their own thread!

This is how I feel too. The CDs are so much more special than a download. I think we live in the age of shallow experiences. Back in the 90s the only way to hear a band was to buy their cd and this meant saving up, buying it and worshipping the hell out of it. To this day I still know all the lyrics to my old CDs. To give an example, bands like My Dying Bride were a complete mystery back in the old days - such an aura of uncertainty surrounded them. No photos in the booklets, barely a pic in the magazines. They were like elusive, romantic gods. We would listen to the one or two albums we could afford of theirs constantly, imagining what their other releases sounded like. They had mysterious and glorious names like 'Turn Loose the Swans', and we could only imagine how transcendent they would be. After saving up and getting the cd we would live with it for months, years, afterwards. Now a person can download their entire discography in minutes, look at hundreds of photos of a bunch of regular awkward Brits, click through a few songs and move on... Now that I have a bit more money I tend to buy a lot more and spend less time listening, so I don't often get that same level of connection, even with the full package. A pity really but I do my best in this busy era of child raising, jobs and all that.

It's testament to how great they are as a band that many have different favourites of theirs. 'October Rust' would still to this day be in my top five all time albums. It's the perfect gothic metal romantic album if you ask me. As for 'Dead Again', my friend and I many years ago held a ritualistic burning of the cd and its artwork to cleanse his property of its evil and terribleness hahaha. Good times. I also prefer the digipak re-release of 'Bloody Kisses' that has the joke songs removed. I guess I sound like a pretty humourless guy but I tell you that's not (normally) the case!

Thanks! And judging from your username I could already tell we had that in common. Great song. Edit: I was thinking your username was 'Restless Oblivion', the Anathema song. Close enough though. Cheers.

Thanks for the heads-up. Here is a random list of favourites: Katatonia, Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Mayhem, Dissection, Emperor, Darkthrone, Arcturus, Septic Flesh, Fleshgod Apocalypse Rottin Christ, Moonsorrow, Thyrfing, Blind Guardian, Black Sabbath, Ozzy etc. Of course I could go on...

Thanks for the welcome, and yes I could have named any number of great albums from the bands I have listed. I think people's preferences tend to get shaped by their experiences with albums and the time of their life when they first heard them. For instance I love 'Bloody Kisses' and 'October Rust' by Type O Negative but loathe their last couple of albums with a passion. I love everything Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride have done, to varying degrees. All of Cradle's output holds interest for me, but not even the great 'Midian' reaches the transcendent heights of 'Dusk' and 'Cruelty' - two classic albums that tend to be forgotten in the wake of Cradle's opinion-splitting antics. I could talk all day about these bands. Lucky there's a forum for it!