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1001 Metal Albums You Should Hear Before You Die [Metal Forum Edition] Updated 29th March 20


The Batlord

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I have no idea how to write proper reviews, but I hope this is good enough :]
 

36. Alkonost - Путь непройденный (2006)
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(eng. "The Path We've Never Made | Russia; pagan/folk/doom metal)


Alkonost is a truly unique band in the sea of folk metal. Mastermind Andrey Losev (founder and songwriter) had an idea to create music which would be based on medieval, as well as Russian folk melodies. These, along with doomy keyboard melodies and guitar parts, are things which characterize Alkonost, and are, safe to say, most prominent on this album (which is deemed by some, the best Alkonost album).

The band utilizes gentle, female, operatic vocals with harsh male vocals, similar to those in black metal. This smooth unity of vocals and melodies gives the band a special and incomparable place in the world of metal.
(although some say Alkonost is something like a Russian Nightwish, I say that that's a completely wrong statement)

After all, here are 2 songs from this album, so judge by yourself ;)

 

 

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Are you familiar with the Russian band Arkona? They have a more distinctive take on this overly dramatic folk-meets-metal idea, to my ears. I like some of the folky melodies here, but the music overall sounds pretty standard to me, the same chord changes I've heard a million times before. The female vocalist has a good voice. It's not really my thing but I can appreciate the skill there. Something about her tone and delivery reminds me of the vocals from 3rd And The Mortal - you may enjoy them if you like melodic doom.

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Yes of course. They're one of the more popular folk metal bands. I just wanted to expose these, less popular ones :D
Thing is, Alkonost and Arkona are on the same level of my liking, but since Arkona is more known (and I really wanted to suggest an album here/review it) I chose Alkonost. Their more recent stuff is "less monotonous" if you may. And another thing is I really can't choose an album, because once I fall in love with a band, all albums are pretty much great for me.

And yeah, I know female operatic vocals - growl combo's aren't a new thing, but still their melody is what I consider unique. And I more like this album as a whole than any other of their albums.

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  • 3 weeks later...
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Comp? Like what? This is kind of a free-for-all thread, I guess it's open to anything besides promo stuff, but I can't personally think of a comp that deserves bucket-list status on its own merit.

I can think of a few, like demo comps of bands that never released an album. If we're talking about a sampler or a "best of" type release, I would say no on principle.

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37. Cradle Of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast (1998)

 

Yes, yes, I know Cradle of Filth are a much maligned band. Rightly so their catalogue is for the most part sub par. It is further testament to this album then that it well deserves recognition as among the finer Black Metal albums to be released. Dani's vocal style is often ludicrous. Detracting significantly from the music and annoying the listener after very little exposure to those high pitched shrieks. Here he is more restrained, and the album is better for it. Throw in some of the catchiest, and heaviest, melodies you'll find in black metal, well written and superbly executed symphonic elements, and the over-arching theme recounting Elizabeth Bathory's infamous life - it's a recipe for success. Greater the tragedy then that CoF would never again reach these heights and are now the BM equivalent of motley crue.

 

 

 

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Bell Witch - "Four Phantoms" 2015

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The weight of achievement with "Four Phantoms" is not just in the fact that it delivers soul crushing heaviness without the use of one single guitar (bass, drums and vocals only here folks) but more in the unfathomable depths of melancholic and tortured melody that the very notes of the bass deliver, the endless darkness of the vocals and the sheer vastness of the song structures themselves. 

Make no mistake here, this isn't background music.  This is performance that demands your full attention.  There's no punches pulled either over the fact that this is a tough listen for most both in terms of patience and accessibility.  I've spent hours in dark hotel rooms with this record and know it almost better than the back of my own hand, I can hear it in my head as I type this which is always a good sign.

Two people wrote "Four Phantoms", two brilliant and talented minds who have given you access into their world, that bottomless pit of dirge and melancholy within they manage to conjure so much imagery and dark shapes.

 

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Katatonia - 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' (2001)

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Katatonia's fifth album is a pinnacle in melancholic metal and the fruition of their songwriting development after moving from their harsher beginnings.

This album is bleak perfection, with Jonas Renkse's voice hitting that perfect sweet spot of tonal confidence mixed with emotional exposure. You can track his clean vocals as they develop through 'Discouraged Ones' (1998) and 'Tonight's Decision' (1999) to this moment, where he absolutely nails it. 

The songs are melodic yet off-kilter, singalong yet obscure, and it initially took me a few listens back at the time of its release to get my head around it. The drumming from new drummer Daniel Liljekvist is sensational and a huge step up from the steady plod of Dan Swano's guest appearance on 'Tonight's Decision'. Here, Liljekvist applies a much more upbeat and technical drumming style to the songs, given them amazing life. I would argue that Katatonia's music has become too clever by half in releation to the odd drum timings these days, but here in 2001 they again hit the sweet spot. 

With songs like 'Teargas', 'Sweet Nurse' and 'Chrome', this is one of the greatest albums I've ever heard, in any style. 

The lyrics are incredible too. Here's the track 'Tonight's Music' that contains the great chorus where Jonas sings, "How could this go so very far that I need someone to say, what is wrong, not with the world, but me?"

 

 

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On 06/03/2017 at 6:53 AM, BlutAusNerd said:

I know I'm in the minority, but I HATE Katatonia's alt-rock/nu-metal material. Even if you do like it, I don't think there's any arguing that they're a different band and should have changed their name.

 

 

I see it more that it took them a couple of albums before they found what the true essence of Katatonia actually was.

If you think about it on the full time-line, they started in, what, 1993 and by 1998 they were total alt rock with 'Discouraged Ones'. 19 years later they are still more or less in this clean vocal verse/chorus style.

Obviously there have been deviations and developments, and no one would really say that 'Night is the New Day' and 'Discouraged Ones' are particularly alike, but you know what I mean. 

If anything, they should change the name on re-releases of 'Dance' and 'Brave' to something else. How's that for a revolutionary idea. 

Hail the true essence of Katatonia: 1998-2017. 

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I don't agree with the idea that people should change the name of their band when they change something about their sound. Maybe the name is something they use to identify whatever they happen to produce together, rather than music in a certain genre. Maybe they don't have anything left to offer with a particular sound, and they move on to other things, but they have an obligation to produce more under their name for a label. Or maybe they want to take a chance on presenting that stuff to their existing fan base without starting promo from scratch, with zero name recognition. With Katatonia, the musical progression from album to album is pretty clear to my ears, especially when you take all of their EP recordings into account.

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On 06/03/2017 at 6:53 AM, BlutAusNerd said: I know I'm in the minority, but I HATE Katatonia's alt-rock/nu-metal material. Even if you do like it, I don't think there's any arguing that they're a different band and should have changed their name.

 

 

I see it more that it took them a couple of albums before they found what the true essence of Katatonia actually was.

If you think about it on the full time-line, they started in, what, 1993 and by 1998 they were total alt rock with 'Discouraged Ones'. 19 years later they are still more or less in this clean vocal verse/chorus style.

Obviously there have been deviations and developments, and no one would really say that 'Night is the New Day' and 'Discouraged Ones' are particularly alike, but you know what I mean. 

If anything, they should change the name on re-releases of 'Dance' and 'Brave' to something else. How's that for a revolutionary idea. 

Hail the true essence of Katatonia: 1998-2017. 

 

A distinction in either direction would be fine, as the two are completely different. Whatever their name becomes, I'll stick with the older incarnation.

 

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

 

 

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1 hour ago, BlutAusNerd said:

 

A distinction in either direction would be fine, as the two are completely different. Whatever their name becomes, I'll stick with the older incarnation.

 

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

 

 

Imagine if bands actually did this every time they changed their sound. 

All my favourite bands: Katatonia, Paradise Lost, Mayhem, Septicflesh, Anathema, Moonspell, Amorphis, Sentenced and Rotting Christ, to name but a few, would have changed their names - and in some cases changed them back once they went back to being closer to their old styles. What a palaver that would be.

Maybe a rule should be that if you lose more than 50% of your original members you should change the name. Cradle of Filth would have a new name every couple of albums...

Maybe it's just better if bands keep their name most of the time.

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15 minutes ago, FatherAlabaster said:

Maybe it's just better if people recognize that albums are weird pastiches of different personalities and musical ideas that various musicians may have had over a period of years, and take them on their own merit. Sometimes it's a brand name, sometimes it's more personal.

Well said. A good summation.

And on that note, we all lived happily ever after/it was the best summer ever.

 

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On 31/03/2017 at 5:31 AM, JadedErotika said:

@ the person who started this thread: I hope I do this like you want....I got 2 albums to recommend: Cradle of Filth's "Thornography" + Marilyn Manson's "Born Villian"...These 2 albums are my ultimate favorites, so, that is why I am posting this...8-]]

Marilyn Manson might have some trouble getting past security, but 'Thornography' is a really cool and very underrated album. The song 'The Byronic Man' is one of my all time favourites, with Ville Valo from HIM on guest vocals as the Lord Byron figure. Cool stuff. 

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Just to clarify (and I am aware that we have newbs on the forum so please no one take offence as I am not trying to be heavy handed) that the idea behind this thread is to post an actual review of the albums you nominate to stop this becoming just a "list of albums thread".

This is probably the only thread where you will see me behave like a proper moderator (for once).

Any albums can go in but they must have a review to back them up or some narrative to explain why the album is being added.

Thanks.

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