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Who are your current top 5 bands?


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  • 2 weeks later...

Top 5!?! That’s a tough one.

So many bands I’m currently enjoying don’t have a significant back catalogue and those that do have albums that just haven’t clicked for me, so I’m going for two lists!  

Long term favourites with a reasonable back catalogue;

Inquisition - There isn't album of theirs that I don’t like. I can’t think of a band I like that has such an impeccable, and lengthy back catalogue.

Opeth - While I haven’t heard anything after Watershed, the rest is solid.

Spectral Wound - Bucking the trend slightly with this one but their limited output is soooo good I’m including them.

Anaal Nathrakh - Not every album hits the spot but when they get the magic right (chaos, varied vocal performances and a memorable chorus with ear worm guitar riff) it just bloody works.

Dimmu Borgir - While Eonian went overboard with the symphonic element the rest of their output has shown the evolution from Emperor style BM to full-on pompous and overblown symphonic extreme metal. 


Current flavours of the month list;

Kaatayra - I have mentioned them before, I see @MarkhantonioYeattsis also a fan, they have a unique blend of styles which is a breath of fresh air…or it was until…

Bríi - See above!

Mgła - Luckily I was taught to pronounce this by Polish work colleagues! Melodic and catchy.

Frummyrkrið - One album, lots of uncertainty about who and where they are from but this is an AOTY for me. Cohesively squeezes numerous ideas into an album and completely nails it.

Paysage d’Hiver - While he does have a significant output, I have still not heard a large portion of it, hence his entry on this list. His albums are not something you put on for a bit of casual listening (Im Wald is around two hours in length), his albums are an event. I actually plan an afternoon or an evening to avoid any distractions when putting an album on. Not only does his self titled album have one of my favourite pieces of album artwork, the opening track, Welt aus Eis, is one of BM greatest compositions.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

This is a hard call to make, but probably in terms of black metal:

Nokturnal Mortum (always, my favorite black metal band of all time)

Emperor (didn't do as much as NM did, but are essential for my vinyl collection)

Marduk (Just can't not like these guys, their music was such a part of growing up for me)

Rotting Christ (I really like how the Greek sound is different from Scandinavian & Slavic sounds)

Burzum (Because the Burzum black metal albums are excellent, top shelf stuff)


As far as other metal goes:

Iced Earth (first non Nu-Metal band I ever got into... Night of the Stormrider and Burnt Offerings are classics)

Cannibal Corpse (because they're an institution even though death metal isn't really my thing)

Dying Fetus (Really the only other death metal band I'm into)

Nightwish (Old Nightwish at least, not into the post-Tarja material)

Acid Witch (because I like less serious, fun stuff as well and they have a great sound)

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1. Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. Their entire discography is perfect for me and I never tire of hearing them.

2. Sunn O))). Black one, Monoliths, and White 2 are replayed a lot by me. I would include Gravetemple in their discography too just because. 

3. Wolves in the Throne Room. They hit that perfect atmospheric BM sound for me. 

4. Electric Wizard. Fuzzed out, bass heavy, drug infused satanic doom just gets me chillin.

5. Bongripper. Bongripper.

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Colombia's Witchtrap is climbing the list because of the album that I just got "Evil Strikes Again". I've listened to that album four times in three days so far. I'm going to have to look into more of their stuff, they're incredible. Remind me of Witchery but more old school thrash with tinges of black metal sensibilities in the lyrics.

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On 10/28/2021 at 7:34 PM, klokateer said:

Electric Wizard. Fuzzed out, bass heavy, drug infused satanic doom just gets me chillin.

My local record store has an Electric Wizard album available, but I didn't know whether or not I would like them now that I don't do drugs anymore. I still like Sleep, Tiamat, and Acid Witch, so I figure that maybe I'd like Electric Wizard too. I'll have to check out their material on Spotify if they have any up on there.

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  • 3 weeks later...
6 hours ago, NokturnalBoredom said:

I haven't checked out a lot by Tristania, Widow's Weeds is the only one I ever had because it was the only one that I could get my hands on back in the CD days.

Yes! Do check out their later records. Morten Veland's last record with them is Beyond the Veil. I do believe their first 2  are masterpieces with WW being their greatest.  A lot of people don't like their 4th record which is Ashes because (if I'm not mistaken) they strayed a little. For me, I came into the Tristania train late so I pretty much like Stene's era.  After their 5th record which is Illumination Stene departed from the band. Tristania then hired Mariangela and I just cant get into it. It's not for me. 

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