MMA Metal Music Lounge Forum Topics General metal music discussions http://www.metalmusicarchives.com phil@metalmusicarchives.com (Philippe Gratton) Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:51:24 -0600 Ozzy Osbourne Gets Lifetime Achievement Brit Award Ozzy Osbourne was awarded a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award at last night's Brits. Members of his final solo backing band - Zakk Wylde, Adam Wakeman and Tommy Clufetos were joined onstage for a rendition of Ozzy's No More Tears by Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo (who played for Ozzy before joining Metallica) and, in what on paper should have been an unusual inclusion, pop singer Robbie Williams. Can't say he didn't nail this though. I kinda want to hear him make a trad doom album now. LOL
[TUBE]O6TzxHeQAhI[/TUBE]
adg2112882026-03-02 07:04:23]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19016 Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:49:59 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19016 I am so thrilled, Ed Repka did my cover
10000968352197171858674162249]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19012 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:23:01 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19012 2026 new albums
For me it's about time for a new one from Obituary though I've heard nothing yet and as the last 2 had a big gap not really expecting one. 
Symphony X are way overdue, last one being 2015.
Mercyful Fate and King Diamond were both scheduled to release new albums in 2025 but didn't appear so hopefully next year. I believe King Diamonds is scheduled for March.
Megadeth is an early January release and probably their last so hopefully a good one to go out with a bang.
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19001 Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:58:18 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19001 MMA Best of 2025 Discussion Thread Nearly another year gone by and it's almost time again for the best of year vote. I'll be opening the voting thread soon so now might be a good time to start thinking about your favourite albums of the year.

Use this thread for discussion on the best of 2025 to save clutter in the actual voting thread.

All the rules will be at the top of the voting thread when it appears but one of the most important ones is that any albums voted for must be on the MMA database. I always find some in lists that are not so if you're aware of any albums/bands you'd like to vote for that aren't here please add them or bring it to the attention of Collaborators/Admin asap.
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18997 Sun, 30 Nov 2025 15:24:19 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18997 Thoughts on Megadeth single "Tipping Point"?
I've seen a lot of criticism of the song, especially regarding the lyrics/vocals (the song got leaked last week), but I don't think it's as bad as some people made it out to be. I find that the guitar is quite good, it reminds me of The Sick, The Dying...And The Dead!.

I really hope the rest of the upcoming album is just as good. Smile

[TUBE]8TXnuYDS8rk?si=Er-Tb6JryEDh9YA1[/TUBE]
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18987 Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:07:35 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18987 Top 25 Most Streamed Metal Artists

I have compiled a list of the top 25 most streamed Metal artists (meaning both bands and solo artists) as of September 3rd, 2025. Subject to change.


This list does include subgenres such as Nu Metal, Metalcore and Glam/Hair Metal. That is because not only are they still Metal despite the "X isn't real Metal" arguments, but also because the list would be wildly different without some of these bands.


Here are the sources I have used to give me an idea of what artists I should be looking at, though I checked each individual artist for the number of their monthly listeners. (I also looked at my personal Liked Songs playlist, though I can't link it.)


Reddit post ("Top 25 Metal Bands by monthly listeners!") - https://www.reddit.com/r/MetalForTheMasses/comments/1c6yjj2/top_25_metal_bands_by_monthly_listeners/

Spotify playlist ("Metal Essentials") - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWWOaP4H0w5b0?si=e42a2fe0f98744eb


In this list, "M" indicates "million".


1) Metallica - 29.8M

2) System Of A Down - 22.9M

3) Black Sabbath - 22.5M

4) Limp Bizkit - 19.7M

5) Disturbed - 19.07M

6) Ozzy Osbourne - 19M

7) Three Days Grace - 17.75M

8) Deftones - 17.73M

9) Slipknot - 14.5M

10) Rammstein - 12.8M

11) Korn 12.2M

12) Avenged Sevenfold - 11.2M

13) Pierce The Veil - 10.76M

14) Mötley Crüe - 10.74M

15) Falling In Reverse - 9.1M

16) Def Leppard - 9M

17) Iron Maiden - 8.5M

18) Ghost - 8.3M

19) Pantera - 8M

20) Rob Zombie - 6.8M

21) Five Finger Death Punch - 6.5M

22) Bad Omens - 6.2M

23) TOOL - 5.6M

24) Megadeth - 5.08M

25) Godsmack - 5.03M


I originally made this a top 30 list, but I had to remove some artists since there is much debate whether an artist is considered Metal or Rock. (Namely, Linkin Park. Depending on whether it's Rock or Metal, it will determine whether Metallica is #1 or #2.) Honestly, differentiating an artist between those two genres is too much work than it's worth, but I tried my best to choose artists that are generally considered Metal.


If you have any suggestions or I missed an artist (as my Metal knowledge is very limited compared to probably every user on this forum), then I would be happy to hear you out and possibly extend the list. :)

 CharcoaledCoffee2025-09-03 12:12:34]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18980 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 18:01:53 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18980 We have a new top album!
However, we have a new number 1. In the past few days, Paranoid has toppled Master of Puppets for the top spot.

And here's our current top 5:
BLACK SABBATH - Paranoid cover
METALLICA - Master of Puppets cover
RUSH - Moving Pictures cover
IRON MAIDEN - Powerslave cover
RAINBOW - Rising cover

]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18978 Mon, 25 Aug 2025 05:15:30 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18978 Obscura and accusations of plagiarism
Weber made a statement:

[QUOTE]I was REALLY hoping it wouldn't come to this… I'm not one to create drama and stir the pot unnecessarily but I'm sad to hear that the new Obscura tune contains melodies that I wrote and melodies that I did not give Steffen permission to use. Before we all left the band we got written confirmation that the material we contributed to the record would not be used but this video shows clearly that my melody was used note for note.

It would have been one thing if I was credited for this or had given him written permission to use it, but that was not the case. It's not about money or even being that attached to the melody, it's a matter of principle and intellectual property theft.

I know because of deadlines, that Steffen was in a tough position when we all left the band but now i'm concerned that more of the music that Chris and I wrote for this album will still be used without our consent.

I'm always more for going the compassionate route but I don't appreciate how this situation has been dealt with. It's NOT ok to use someone else's music regardless of how much or how little was used, especially without credit.[/QUOTE]

As did Weber's Exist bandmate Max Phelps:

[QUOTE]“I have never wanted to make a post like this, but I’ve got to back up my brother on it…the new Obscura song is stolen.

“Alex brought the parts in question to the table a while ago and we had currently been working them into an Exist arrangement, so I’m personally very familiar with them. I would even argue that Alex undermined the extent of the plagiarism in his wording…it goes beyond the melody to the rhythmic ideas and development whenever that melody occurs. It’s not just the bassline, it’s the guitars and drum line as well.

“Here are the parts that are plagiarized.

0:00 – 1:15
2:14 – 2:34
4:49 – 5:35

“That’s 2.5 minutes of a 5.5 minute song.

“These were not Steffen’s to use and now he’s trying to blow Alex off by claiming that he ‘changed them dramatically’. He didn’t…it’s not even remotely subjective and there are copyright violations all the time over musical ideas that are far bigger stretches.

“I do want to clarify that Steffen has been a good friend of mine for years and has done a lot of solids for Alex, myself and Exist including taking us on tour even when our band really didn’t have much traction. Neither of us take this for granted, which unfortunately makes this even more of a heel turn and a huge disappointment.

“If Alex still wants to use the riffs then we still will use them and there’s nothing Steffen can do because they are legally not his or his record label’s intellectual property.

“On a side note, Robin Zielhorst is awesome and I feel bad if he and the other new dudes are getting tangled in this.”[/QUOTE]

Christian has also made comments:

[QUOTE]“I just heard more of the new Obscura. There are riffs I had written and was guaranteed would not be used, and they are being used 1:1, note for note, stolen, copied, as well as entire song structures. Mr. Tech Death Genius strikes again I would say. If Nuclear Blast releases this they are thiefs [sic] as well. I will not let this slide and explore every legal avanue [sic]. There are limits to how much shit we should tolerate. These songs were intended for a solo EP I was planning to do after the Obscura split, now I can not do this anymore. This can not go on. Especially if we ‘agree to disagree’ because of creative differences and then you use other peoples work, after you say we are not on the same page what we want musically?[/QUOTE]

Steffen Kummerer has responded:

[QUOTE]“Oh, I think there’s a lot of frustration involved in this story. There’s a lot of unnecessary public slander going on right now. That’s all I have to say. If I have a problem with someone, I pick up the phone and go and deal with it directly with them, I’m not going to go on my social media and start a ‘witch hunt’. I think their intention was a little different, they didn’t want to solve the ‘problems’. I find that very sad, because I worked with those guys for a long time, and we ended up on a relatively good note.

I sent the entire album, the final product, right away for them to listen to; I have nothing to hide. Now I’m having to deal with someone putting the entire campaign for the new album on hold, which is very sad, but there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s already happened, people have already formed their opinions, no one wants to hear the other side of things anymore, they don’t want my opinion. I’ll deal with it, I’ll resolve it, but it won’t be very nice for them, that’s all I can say.

It’s sad because it’s so unnecessary. Nowadays, if you point things out like that in public, it doesn’t look good for the person pointing it out, it’s not a very mature approach. In the end, everyone loses. I’m not going to speak out, there’s not going to be an official statement. I’ll talk to people directly if it’s really a problem, but so far, no one has come to me to try to solve it directly, and that’s the good thing. Again, I think there’s a lot of frustration involved in all this, and I’m going to deal with it, but on my own terms, not publicly.”[/QUOTE]

I don't really know who to believe over this but there is supposedly some video evidence from the Exist guys (which I've not seen) which details what's been stolen from them. 

Obscura was among the first death metal acts I really got into. Not enough to follow them closely - I only ever bought three of their albums to date although I was always interested in adding more to my collection - but Omnivium was one of the first death metal records I bought. 

The band has never been known for having a stable line-up and the suggestion that Steffen Kummerer is difficult to work with has been made before. But this seems next level shitty if true. 

I've heard the album. It's okay. They've done far better ones before. Maybe my opinion of it is being coloured by these accusations. It's getting rating bombed on RYM which started even before release. 
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18925 Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:52:30 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18925 Non-rock/metal instruments played in rock/metal What are some of your favorite non-rock/metal instruments done in a rock/metal context?

For me, I absolutely ADORE the saxophone! One good example of this is Striker's 'Give it All':
[TUBE]jRKsJp49Lwc[/TUBE]
Some other instruments I like in this way are the violin and flute. There may be others but I can't think of them atm.
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18914 Sat, 30 Nov 2024 21:07:29 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18914 Gojira playing the Olympic opening ceremony!
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18878 Thu, 25 Jul 2024 12:14:11 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18878 New Metallica - underwhelming?
How's everyone else finding it?
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17781 Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:39:56 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17781 MMA Best of Year 2022 Discussion Thread
Use this thread for discussion on the best of 2022 to save clutter in the actual voting thread.

All the rules will be at the top of the voting thread when it appears but one of the most important ones is that any albums voted for must be on the MMA database. I always find some in lists that are not so if you're aware of any albums/bands you'd like to vote for that aren't here please add them or bring it to the attention of Collaborators/Admin asap.
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17770 Sun, 27 Nov 2022 08:34:17 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17770 Band recommendations for a workmate?
Any ideas?
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17751 Mon, 05 Sep 2022 21:13:58 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17751 40 Name Your Price Death/Doom/Grind Albums Check out the video or just see the list below. Enjoy all this free music but do try and leave a small donation to the ones you really like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8D3_HOXr3U


Black Sheep Wall: https://silentpendulumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-god-songs
https://blackwolfhc.bandcamp.com/album/the-dead-of-winter-2
https://boar.bandcamp.com/album/boar
https://cancelledearth666.bandcamp.com/album/a-treatise-on-pointlessness
https://castlefreak.bandcamp.com/album/savage-nights-of-the-castle-freak
https://causticvomit-ru.bandcamp.com/album/caustic-vomit-festering-odes-to-deformity
https://deathbydisposal.bandcamp.com/album/disposal
https://deha.bandcamp.com/album/so-humanity-burns
https://dodsrit.bandcamp.com/album/d-dsrit-3
https://enwretch.bandcamp.com/
https://eyesnomouth.bandcamp.com/album/griefhole
https://froglord.bandcamp.com/album/save-the-frogs
https://frontierer.bandcamp.com/album/unloved
https://grone.bandcamp.com/album/stains-and-omissions
https://gutless-maggotstomp.bandcamp.com/album/mass-extinction
https://humanitydefiled.bandcamp.com/album/mankind-is-the-disease-2
https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/ghost-light
https://intoxicatedflorida.bandcamp.com/album/walled-ep
https://juddmadden.bandcamp.com/album/everything-in-waves
https://kowloonwalledcity.bandcamp.com/album/container-ships
https://magnatar.bandcamp.com/album/the-trail
https://methwitch.bandcamp.com/album/indwell
https://mortuaryspawn.bandcamp.com/
https://mutilatedbyzombies2.bandcamp.com/album/cymatics-of-death
https://phrenelith.bandcamp.com/album/ornamented-dead-eyes
https://pyrecult.bandcamp.com/album/obedience
https://reeking.bandcamp.com/
https://sentienthorror.bandcamp.com/album/sentient-horror-ungodly-forms
https://sonicmass.bandcamp.com/album/you-people-never-learn-2
https://subtype-zero.bandcamp.com/album/ceremonious-extinction
https://sulaco.bandcamp.com/album/build-and-burn
https://teethband.bandcamp.com/album/unremittance-2020-remaster
https://thou.bandcamp.com/album/blessings-of-the-highest-order
https://timelurker.bandcamp.com/album/i
https://tombmold.bandcamp.com/album/cerulean-salvation
https://tombstoner-us.bandcamp.com/album/victims-of-vile-torture
https://undeath.bandcamp.com/album/sentient-autolysis
https://urosepsis.bandcamp.com/album/malicious-malpractice
https://verminwomb.bandcamp.com/album/permanence
https://vomitforth.bandcamp.com/album/2021-promo
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17744 Thu, 28 Jul 2022 15:16:15 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17744 Unpopular Metal Opinions
Mine: Burzum's Filosofem is one of the worst albums ever made (in black metal or otherwise) and the rest of Varg's work is not much better. 
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17714 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 13:41:43 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17714 1916, March Or Die, Bastards
Anyway, I love 1916. It came along four years after Rock and Roll, which was the biggest gap between albums in Motorhead's entire existence, largely due to record label fuckwittery. I don't think there's a bad track on it, and the title track is such a spine-tingling anti-war anthem. Funnily enough, the most played song from the album on Spotify is the power ballad Love Me Forever. It has more than twice the listens of R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
MOTÖRHEAD - 1916 cover

March Or Die is not quite as good. There was no Philthy on drums. Still, there's some absolute rockers on this album, like first track Stand. There's a great cover of Cat Scratch Fever, the co-written with Ozzy Hellraiser (still the superior version), and some more creative balladry in I Ain't No Nice Guy. Final track March Or Die is a meaner, more detached take on the militaristic anti-war closer like 1916.
MOTÖRHEAD - March ör Die cover

Bastards has some classic tracks like On Your Feet Or On Your Knees, Death Or Glory, and the anthemic Born To Raise Hell. It also has the utterly spine chilling Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me. This is the first album to feature Mikkey Dee as Motorhead's permanent drummer, where he stayed until 2015.
MOTÖRHEAD - Bastards cover

1916 was the first Motorhead studio album I bought (I had the two No Sleep... live albums and the No Remorse compilation), and after Bastards it was many years before I could even fucking FIND another new Motorhead album, possibly due to record label problems. I think these three albums represent a rennaissance for a band which could very easily have folded due to shit being just too hard, could have rested on their laurels and traded off the reputation of the earlier albums, or could have just faded into irrelevance. Instead, Motorhead seemed to pick up steam starting with this period, building a strong and very loyal following as they went.

What's everyone else think of these albums?
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17712 Sun, 24 Apr 2022 19:11:52 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17712 Odd Choices For An Artist's Best Album
I'll start: Sepultura. I can't get around that the album I'm most fond of is Dante XXI. 
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17704 Sun, 17 Apr 2022 14:18:32 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17704 Most Misunderstood Metal Genre? Why?
I guess a lot of people who like such genres more than most are going to jump to the likes of metalcore, deathcore and its variants, or even to nu metal, but I'm going to put forward power metal as the sub-genre that gets misunderstood the most. 

While power metal is perhaps more accepted as a 'main' sub-genre of metal and doesn't have the same kind of 'that's not true metal!' detractors as other sub-genres, the amount of times in my years listening to metal that some random internet stranger has jumped on the opportunity to fire shots at power metal that range from passive-aggressive to unveiled hostility. 

And I really don't get why. Sure, power metal has some extremely melodic bands that can come over as cheesy. There's a definite penchant for themes of fantasy too. Know what else also has that? Traditional heavy metal, where it all started. 

Power metal (either strain of the genre) is at heart a souped up version of traditional metal (via speed metal in the case of the European style). Often faster, harder hitting and yes, more melodic. And it's closest cousin is actually thrash metal, which many seem to consider the best genre of metal. Even outside of the USPM style, there are Euro style bands that are harder hitting, especially those from Germany. But when people diss power metal, they tend to diss all of power metal as if none of those bands ever existed. 

Okay, your turn. 
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17703 Sat, 16 Apr 2022 02:30:00 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17703 No more subgenres (on metal-archives.com)
No more sub-genre tags, descriptors, influences. No more "technical something/other metal with non-metal fusion influences."

"Metal"

Lemmy, the God himself, called Motörhead a rock 'n' roll band. They're also considered pioneers of speed metal, a precursor to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and of course a hard rock/rock 'n' roll band. Still, all this focus on the genre detracts from what they really were: badass. 

Tom G. Warrior once described Celtic Frost as "a rock and roll band, on the heavier side." The band's genre is nearly impossible to pin down, often labeled as a speed/black/thrash metal band in their earlier form when they were freshly evolved from Hellhammer, a black/death/thrash metal band on their debut, creators of avant-garde metal mixed with new wave influence on Into the Pandemonium, glam rock/metal on the poorly received Cold Lake, gothic/doom metal on Vanity/Nemesis, and finally some sort of unholy conjuration which melded black/death/gothic/doom and more on Monotheist. We don't want to waste any more time trying to pin down such complex genre decisions - that's best left to folks who have too much time because they can't take off their serious faces long enough to enjoy Frost's cover of Wall of Voodoo's Mexican Radio. 

Black Sabbath have been regarded as the progenitors of heavy metal since long before this encyclopaedia existed. They are also hailed as the originators of doom metal, a sub-genre which frequently makes reference to being derived from Tony Iommi's riffs. Their music touches on other genres at times, too, from the blues rock of the B-side of their self-titled album (covers of blues rock bands Crow and The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation) to progressive rock on Volume 4 (Iommi was also briefly in prog rock pioneers Jethro Tull) and an unfortunate crossover with rap on 1995's Forbidden album. It is hard to capture this nuance, but Black Sabbath are *the* metal band. 

Another hotly-contested genre listing is that of black metal and viking metal pioneers Bathory. Many contemporary sources considered the band's early music to be thrash metal, and the mid-90s albums certainly were. There's even a song on Destroyer of Worlds, "Sudden Death," which is an ode to playoff hockey and sounds like Pantera, the groove metal pioneers who also recorded the Dallas Stars fight song. 

These are, of course, four of the finest bands in the world, and the real pain of running the site is not in the limited number of good bands, but in handling the frequent requests to re-evaluate the genres of the majority of the 157,000 bands on the site, most of which are not very good or worth our time. This is almost as bad as people telling us that group Between the Buried and Me are a "progressive metal" band every time we make a post on Facebook. They're not. 

From this day forward, we're calling metal bands what they are - "metal" - and nothing more. No more technicalities on technical x metal. No more post-metal, post-rock or post-hardcore influences, and certainly not post-malone, which we're told is a subgenre of SoundCloud rap which Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne dabbled with on his 2020 album Ordinary Man. 

Thoughts?
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17694 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 07:21:06 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17694 Name a great song from an otherwise poor album
I'll start, with the inspiration for this thread:

Nightwish - Elvenpath from Angels Fall First.

[TUBE]FZdkjrS35-I[/TUBE]
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17659 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 09:25:36 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17659 Metal songs called "Nightmare" It's been around 40 years that I have been singing the chorus to a song that I heard on one of Tommy Vance's early 1980s Friday Rock Show. Tommy never said after the track who the artist was and to this day I have never found out. So I'm asking a favour really, if the metal forum community can help me identify who the band were? The song, I think, was called “Nightmare” and the chorus was “Nightmare, knocking at your door”. It would be great if you could post links to any bands and songs from the late 70s to mid-80s that could have been around at that time with a tune called Nightmare or Nightmares or that have similar lyrics.

 

Thanking you

 

TD

]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17658 Sat, 15 Jan 2022 10:00:24 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17658 MMA Best of Year 2021 Vote Discussion Thread
Use this thread for any comments/discussions on the best of 2021 to save cluttering up the voting thread.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's lists as there's always a few gems to discover.

Update: vote now open at...

Nightfly2021-12-06 15:03:40]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17638 Sat, 04 Dec 2021 06:48:05 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17638 NEW Iron Maiden video is here! Sounds like they are going a bit in the folk metal direction on this new video for WRITING ON THE WALL

New album soon? Sure hope so!

[TUBE]FhBnW7bZHEE[/TUBE]
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16553 Thu, 15 Jul 2021 12:25:43 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16553 Searching for a band
I am searching for a song and that for a very long time. Ran it through some apps but not able to find it. I hope its ok to post a link here?! 

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m9jez

Please have a listen and I hope somebody finds it. Smile

cheers, Alex
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16549 Wed, 07 Jul 2021 07:50:01 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16549 ProgArchives mentioned on Punk Rock MBA The Punk Rock MBA (The channel name is a bit vague. The guy covers all sorts of music.) called The Problem with Progressive Music...
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At about 3:20 into the video, he defines prog, using the definition from ProgArchives.Cool
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16529 Fri, 28 May 2021 16:05:49 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16529 2021 so far
Here's a few I've been enjoying:

Ad Nauseam - Imperative Imperceptible Impulse (dissonant avante-garde tech death)
http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/ad-nauseam/imperative-imperceptible-impulse


Enrapture - Another Green Drought (prog influenced post-metal)

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/enrapture(norway)/another-green-drought


Sweaty Mammoth - low n slow (stoney, clean vocal sludge)

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/sweaty-mammoth/low-n-slow


Devotion - The Harrowing (solid death metal)

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/devotion/the-harrowing


Kaptan Kadavra - Kaptan Kadavra (thrash/groove/sludge fusion)

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/kaptan-kadavra/kaptan-kadavra


Coffin Mulch - Septic Funeral (old school death with a doom influence)

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/coffin-mulch/septic-funeral(ep)]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16490 Sun, 28 Mar 2021 08:26:39 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16490 MMA Best of Year 2020 Results
Metal Music Archives Best of Year 2020

The intention was to have a Top 100 but due to tie breakers it turned out to be 101 albums.

#99 - #61

#99 (49 points): Butcher - 666 Goats Carry My Chariot (Speed Metal)
#99 (49 Points): The Black Dahlia Murder - Verminous (Melodic Death Metal)
#99 (49 Points): AC/DC - Power Up (Hard Rock)
#91 (50 Points): Outrage - Run Riot (Thrash Metal)
#91 (50 Points): Demonic Death Judge - The Trail (Sludge Metal)
#91 (50 Points): White Walls - Grandeur (Progressive Metal)
#91 (50 Points): Majestica - A Christmas Carol (Power Metal) 
#91 (50 Points): Haunt - Flashback (Heavy Metal)
#91 (50 Points): The Hell - Joris (A Hardcore Opera), Pt I (Hardcore Punk)
#91 (50 Points): MSW - Obliviosus (Doom Metal)
#91 (50 Points): Graceless - Where Vultures Know Your Name (Death-Doom Metal)
#89 (51 Points): Hatebreed - Weight of the False Self (Metalcore)
#89 (51 Points): Tombs - Under Sullen Skies (Black Metal)
#83 (55 Points): Oceans Of Slumber - Oceans Of Slumber (Progressive Metal)
#83 (55 Points): Anubis Gate - Covered In Colours (Progressive Metal)
#83 (55 Points): Brothers of Metal - Emblas Saga (Power Metal)
#83 (55 Points): ##### - Новые пророки (Nu Metal)
#83 (55 Points): Atavist - III: Absolution (Death-Doom Metal)
#83 (55 Points): Demonical - World Domination ( Death Metal)
#82 (56 Points): Onslaught - Generation Antichrist (Thrash Metal)
#80 (57 Points): My Dying Bride - The Ghost of Orion (Doom Metal)
#80 (57 Points): The Ocean Collective - Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic l Cenozoic (Atmospheric Sludge Metal)
#79 (59 Points): Demons & Wizards - III (US Power Metal)
#75 (60 Points): Serenity - The Last Knight (Power Metal)
#75 (60 Points): Night - High Tides - Distant Skies (Heavy Metal)
#75 (60 Points): Zeal and Ardor - Wake of a Nation (Black Metal)
#75 (60 Points): Severoth - Vsesvit (Atmospheric Black Metal)
#73 (61 Points): Katatonia - City Burials (Alternative Metal)
#73 (61 Points): Avandra - Skylightling (Progressive Metal)
#72 (66 Points): Cirith Ungol - Forever Black (Heavy Metal)
#70 (67 Points): Sumac - May You Be Held (Atmospheric Sludge Metal)
#70 (67 Points): Uada - Djinn (Melodic Black Metal)
#69 (68 Points): Macabre - Carnival of Killers (Death Metal)
#66 (70 Points): Seven Spires - Emerald Seas (Symphonic Metal)
#66 (70 points): Old Man Gloom - Seminar IX: Darkness of Being (Sludge Metal)
#66 (70 Points): Wytch Hazel - III Pentecost (Heavy Metal)
#65 (72 Points): Pallbearer - Forgotten Days (Doom Metal)
#64 (73 Points): Amaranthe - Manifest (Trance Metal)
#62 (77 Points): Haken - Virus (Progressive Metal)
#62 (77 Points): Grave Digger - Fields of Blood (Power Metal)
#61 (78 Points): Skelethal - Unveiling the Threshold (Death Metal)


#60 (82 Points)

#54 (85 (Points)

#54 (85 Points)

#54 (85 Points)

#54 (85 Points)


Grayceon - Mothers Weavers Vultures

Progressive Metal


Jurassic Jade - Id

Thrash Metal

Dynazty - The Dark Delight

Power Metal


Fuck the Facts - Pleine Noirceur

Grindcore


Grin - Translucent Blades

Doom Metal

#54 (85 Points)

#54 (85 Points)

#52 (90 Points)

#52 (90 Points)

#51 (93 Points)


Sinister - Deformation of the Holy Realm

Death Metal


Deftones - Ohms

Alternative Metal


Sólstafir - Endless Twilight of Codependent Love

Progressive Metal


Tallah - Matriphagy

Nu Metal



Dark Forrest - Oak, Ash & Thorn

Heavy Metal

#50 (94 Points)

#49 (96 Points)

#48 (98 Points)

#44 (100 Points)

#44 (100 Points)


White Stones - Kuarahy

Death Metal


Wake  - Devouring Ruin

Black Metal


Beehoover - Low Performer

Sludge Metal


Kvaen - The Funeral Pyre

Melodic Black Metal


Alestorm - Curse of the Crystal Coconut

Folk Metal

#44 (100 Points)

#44 (100 Points)

#43 (102 Points)

#41 (106 Points)

#41 (106 Points)


Vredehammer - Viperous

Death Metal


Paysage D'Hiver - Im Wald

Atmospheric Black Metal


Pain of Salvation - Panther

Progressive Metal



Rage - Wings of Rage

Power Metal



Dark Tranquility - Moment

Melodic Death Metal


#40 (108 Points)

#39 (110 Points)

#38 (111 Points)

#37 (115 Points)

#36 (116 Points)


Trivium - What the Dead Men Say

Melodic Metalcore



Fates Warning - Long Day Good Night

Progressive Metal



Sodom - Genesis XIX

Thrash Metal


Green Carnation - Leaves of Yesteryear

Progressive Metal


Dealer - Saint

Nu Metal


#35 (124 Points)

#34 (125 Points)

#33 (129 Points)

#30 (131 Points)

#30 (131 Points)


Ensiferum - Thalassic

Folk Metal


Mr Bungle - The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo

Thrash Metal

Armored Saint - Punching the Sky

Heavy Metal


Coexistence - Collateral Dimension

Technical Death Metal


Vader - Solitude in Madness

Death Metal

#30 (131 Points)

#29 (137 Points)

#28 (140 Points)

#27 (142 Points)

#26 (145 Points)


Incantation - Sect of Vile Divinities

Death Metal


Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou - May Our Chambers Be Full

Atmospheric Sludge Metal

Soilwork - A Whisp of the Atlantic

Melodic Death Metal


Benediction - Scriptures

Death Metal


Conception - State of Deception

Progressive Metal


#25 (149 Points)
Necrophobic - Dawn Of The Damned
Melodic Death Metal


After the excellent Mark Of The Necrogram released in 2016 Dawn Of The Damned finds Necrophobic mining the same rich vein of blackened melodic death metal and not only equalling it but actually bettering it. A band truly at the peak of their game.

[TUBE]Rwhkk6oYYCE[/TUBE]


#24 (155 Points)
Gaerea - Limbo
Black Metal


The label of post-black metal often seems to be used synonymously with 'atmospheric black metal' but to apply such a label to the music of Portugal's Gaerea which be to inaccurately describe their music. This band, of which Limbo is their second studio album, instead infuses their black metal sound with sludge/post metal, which is an entirely different ballgame to your Burzum or Ulver. Like many in the scene these days, Gaerea have choosing, for now at least, to keep their identities completely anonymous. Whomever they are though, they have certainly made one of 2020's strongest black metal offerings with Limbo, existing in a sub-genre niche that doesn't always get enough recognition.

[TUBE]25BHJ66oSzM[/TUBE]


#23 (158 Points)
Oranssi Pazuzu - Mestarin Kynsi
Black Metal


Once again Oranssi Pazuzu take their psychedelic infused black metal blueprint and throw in a bit of Krautrock to produce another startlingly good album. They go for the slow burn approach. Hypnotic, unsettling, explosive and totally captivating – they are all of these and more. Mestarin Kynsi takes time to sink in but it’s well worth the effort and is one of the most original albums you’re likely to hear from 2020.

[TUBE]ScMbsZW3qn4[/TUBE]


#22 (163 Points)
Unleash The Archers - Abyss
Power Metal


After the suitably titled Apex Unleash The Archers now take us into the Abyss? Well not really, Abyss is still clearly from the same band but this time their power metal is slicker with a greater emphasis on melodic songwriting. Some fans may decry this seemingly more commercial direction but listen and you’ll still find plenty of the fire present last time around alongside hooks to die for.

[TUBE]1bGmjnkDTTI[/TUBE]


#21 (165 Points)
Lascaille's Shroud - Wounds
Progressive Metal


 Released a mere two weeks after Othercosmic Divinations I was finally available in its entirety, it was perhaps logical to expect the sixth Lascaille's Shroud release to be the second album of that series. Instead, Brett Windnagle released Wounds, a stand-alone but ultimately similarly themed three track album based on video games. The focal point of the release is of course it's title track, lasting over twenty-five minutes and based on the game The Last of Us Part II, which is certainly among the project's greatest achievements to date. 

[TUBE]IrC6rgz52H4[/TUBE]


#20 (168 Points)
Havukruunu - Uinuos Syömein Sota
Pagan Black Metal


Pagan black metal is not, and perhaps won't ever be, the most commonly performed, listened to, or even understood sub-genre. One band though who could never be accused of not understanding it, although they have leant more on melodic black metal as well on third album Uinuos syömein sota, is Finland's Havukruunu. Their music is pretty much a textbook example of what the pagan black metal genre is and sounds like, but it isn't for this that they are due their high regard. No, it's because, simply put, that they're just a damn good band, one that we expect to continue to hear even more great things from.

[TUBE]AeLagDKdpLY[/TUBE]


#19 (170 Points)
Testament - Titans of Creation
Thrash Metal


Can Testament make a bad record? Apparently not as Titans of Creation continues a long line of stellar thrash metal albums. It’s amazing to think that thirty three years after their formation Testament are still showing the new kids on the block how it’s done.

[TUBE]C9hDhc1Bd4U[/TUBE]


#18 (178 Points)
Ayreon - Transitus
Progressive Metal


Transitus marks a departure for Ayreon mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen in many ways. It's the first time for quite a while that he made two Ayreon albums back to back, there's no Ed Warby on drums, and the story, despite having some nods to it, doesn't take place in the Ayreon universe timeline, although it isn't the first Ayreon album that's true of it. It also features a much more compact cast of vocalists and comes with a comic book to read along with the album, which rather than a gimmick turns out to be completely necessary to get the full experience of it. Each disc is best taken as two long songs, defining two acts of the story. The stripped back approach to vocalists will no doubt come as a surprise to established Ayreon fans, as well as the very uneven manner in which every voice is utilised, but it's actually this that ends up making Transitus a unique entry in Lucassen's body of work. Also, it's narrated by Tom Baker, TV's Fourth Doctor himself, how cool is that? Now, would you like a jelly baby before we continue?

[TUBE]MPnN7fZDF6o[/TUBE]


#17 (203 Points)
Neal Morse - Sola Gratia
Metal Related


Neal Morse is one of progressive rock's most prolific modern musicians, but his relevance to the metal scene often goes understated. While latest solo release Sola Gratia isn't the most consistently heavy work he's ever produced, a credit which may go to the earlier Sola Scriptura, of which this is a thematic sequel, complete with reprises of many of that album's lyrics and music, or to The Neal Morse Band's The Great Adventure, it does stand out as a special release within Neal's discography. Recorded remotely in lockdown with usual collaborators Randy George and Mike Portnoy, Sola Gratia may be a bit too much on the Christian lyrics for some (it's a concept album about Paul the Apostle), but those who spend some time with it will find it Morse's most special release in some years, ranging from heavy hard rocking material like In the Name of the Lord to progressive mini-masterpieces like Seemingly Sincere.

[TUBE]ZsYgGN_HQ-A[/TUBE]


#16 (207 Points)
Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron
US Power Metal


When we think of US Power Metal, it's reasonable to go straight to the genre that existed in the eighties as kind of a stepping point between heavy metal and the later European brand which we all mean when we say 'power metal' today. It does this genre of metal a disservice though, as it has remained alive and kicking, if not well known and perhaps indistinguishable from traditional metal to some, ever since. It hasn't really gone away. Eternal Champion are one of a few relatively new bands that fly the flag for a classic USPM sound. Ravening Iron is their second album after an already excellent debut The Armor of Ire in 2016 and it continues in the same tradition, proving that there's life in USPM yet.

[TUBE]8fQ1tLe1uQ8[/TUBE]


#15 (213 Points)
Cryptic Shift - Visitations from Enceladus
Technical Thrash Metal


Any band that released an album displaying the scope of Visitations From Enceladus should be rightly proud of their achievements. The fact that this is Cryptic Shift’s debut album makes it all the more stunning. An album that mixes progressive, technical thrash and technical death metal, it’s complex and dynamic with endless twists and turns, no better demonstrated than on the twenty six minutes album opener Moonbelt Immolator. 

[TUBE]lurLrK1RFYs[/TUBE]


#14  (214 Points)
Boris - NO
Sludge Metal


Boris is among Japan's most prolific metal bands, often releasing multiple albums a year in a variety of styles. Most known for drone and sludge metal, NO sees the band on the most all-out aggressive and intense hardcore side of sludge, and it's one of the band's best in years. Combining sludge's crushing heaviness with the speed of thrash and hardcore, NO is an album for anyone wanting the heaviest of heavy.

[TUBE]a4wBnsP1Gy8[/TUBE]


#13 (215 Points)
Sweven - The Eternal Resonance
Progressive Metal


If the name Sweven is familiar despite The Eternal Resonance only being the group's debut album, then there is a reason why. It was the title of the second and final album of Morbus Chron back in 2014. After that band ended, frontman Robert Andersson founded Sweven and as can be assumed from the naming of the last album of his previous band, continues more or less where the former left off, which can only be a good thing, as Morbus Chron were among the most unique death metal acts active in the 2010s and their ending after just two albums was a great loss to the metal scene. Sweven takes a much more progressive based style than the former, but the elements the band uses are the same; prog, death metal and psychedelic rock. While their riffs have less to do with death metal than Opeth ever did and have a distinctly 70s flavour, the growling vocals certainly put Sweven in the extreme metal zone.

[TUBE]E7atkNuadaE[/TUBE]


#12 (216 Points)
Psychotic Waltz - The God-Shaped Void
Progressive Metal



The first question people are likely to ask when a band releases their first album in twenty four years is can they still cut it? The answer is fortunately a resounding yes. Psychotic Waltz don’t go for the blur of notes approach often associated with the sub-genre, instead we get an album of well-crafted generally mid-paced progressive metal with an emphasis on strong hooks and strong songwriting. The sound is more polished these days but on The God-Shaped Void the band proves that they still have what it takes to produce top grade progressive metal. 

[TUBE]mXhoWwHMp5o[/TUBE]


#11 (219 Points)
Cult Of Lilith - Mara
Technical Death Metal


Every year throws up a few surprises in heavy metal. This year it was the turn of Icelandic death metal band Cult Of Lilith. After releasing an EP in 2016, Mara is their startling debut album that took many by surprise. A very busy album blending their technical death metal with progressive elements and an ample supply of melody making for a highly engaging listen that reveals something new each time you play it.

[TUBE]5otC-BTmm4g[/TUBE]



#10 (222 Points)
Lascaille's Shroud - Othercosmic Divinations I
Progressive Metal


A good chunk of Lascaille's Shroud's Othercosmic Divinations I was actually available since 2019, which was when the album was originally expected to release as a follow-up to the one song album The Tiger's Daughter (2018). Problems beset the production however, not least the Covid-19 pandemic and the finished product wasn't made available until August of 2020, with it's implied second part still forthcoming. After producing two massive double albums quite earlier in his career, including The Roads Leading North, which was MMA's 11th top album for 2016, sole member Brett Windnagle has perhaps seemed a bit more restrained per release since, but continues to turn out quality progressive death metal based on video games and novels. 

[TUBE]P1ZdEDBb5PQ[/TUBE]


#9 (239 Points)
Sepultura - Quadra
Thrash Metal


Sepulura’s place in the history of heavy metal is guaranteed but it hasn’t always been a smooth road for them. After early thrash classics like Beneath The Remains and Arise they then lost founder member Max Cavalera after the eyebrow raising Roots album. Following years of releasing albums in more of a groove metal style the band in recent years seem to have rediscovered what made them such a great band in the first place culminating in Quadra, their finest album in almost thirty years.

[TUBE]x2nZ3n8_e3k[/TUBE]


#8 (243 Points)
Mare Cognitum & Spectral Lore - Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine
Atmospheric Black Metal


Splits don't often get a look in when it comes to talking about the best albums of a given year and with good reason. They're often just a bunch of sometimes seemingly randomly selected tracks from two or more artists, who may not even always be in the same genre. Sometimes though, a split is a much more special release. Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine, by black metal acts Mare Cognitum and Spectral Lore, is one such release. As much collaboration as true split, this is the second time the one man bands have joined forces, following 2013's Sol, of which Wanderers may be seem as a continuation of the duo's journey through our Solar System. A supermassive black hole of an atmospheric black metal release, the album isn't for the faint of heart. The only confusing thing about it is why they don't visit the planets in order, while it seems a statement on their part that not only is Pluto included as a planet, it's the only one with two tracks dedicated to it, one being completely ambient. 

[TUBE]oE5qDzpst4E[/TUBE]


#7 (285 Points)
Ulcerate - Stare into Death and be Still
Technical Death Metal


Many of those that regularly listen to extreme metal won’t find Ulcerate’s Stare Into Death And Be Still an easy listen. But dig into the cacophony, dissonance and syncopated rhythms and you’ll be rewarded with a brutal and dark death metal album that seems to deliver more each time you play it.

[TUBE]3Ke2f1tvxCQ[/TUBE]



#6 (308 Points)
Esoctrilihum - Eternity of Shaog
Atmospheric Black Metal


 Esoctrilihum, a one man band, may have only made its debut in 2017, but by 2020 we are already on the project's fifth album Eternity of Shaog. When the band was started the music was about as pure atmospheric black metal as such things came, but sole member Asthâghul quickly diversified his sound with death metal and became much more established in that genre. On Eternity of Shaog things have returned more to the black metal camp, though the album could hardly be called a regression to the Mare Cognitum-esque roots of the project. The atmospheric blend of black and death metal, perhaps also with some progressive undertones hinting at further ways the band's sound could be experimented with, is certainly still one of the more unique extreme metal sounds we've heard in 2020. And something tells us that Esoctrilihum isn't done yet with surprising us with what he can do.

[TUBE]kKfQ1Mdzbp0[/TUBE]



#5 (341 Points)
Enslaved - Utgard
Progressive Metal


A new Enslaved album is always something to look forward to and once again Utgard proves to be worth the wait. As with recent albums the band are firmly entrenched in progressive metal with elements of their black metal roots seemingly less with each release but still showing themselves here and there. Those who have followed and enjoyed the journey the band has taken will not be disappointed as the band have produced another compelling metal album in their own inimitable style.

[TUBE]pXzRjf7OMek[/TUBE]



#4 (378 Points)
Lovebites - Electric Pentagram
Power Metal




Winners in 2018 for Metal Music Archives Album of the Year for their second studio album Clockwork Immortality, it shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone that Lovebites remain one of MMA's most beloved power metal acts going into a new decade. Electric Pentagram (note the Morbid Angel-esque naming convention they use across their major releases) is a mammoth power metal album, clocking in at just over seventy minutes. On paper that may sound just too much for the genre, but the Japanese band doesn't waste a single second of it, making it fully justified. While the band's sound hasn't change all that much since their started out, their balance of symphonic influences and nods to old school power metal through speed metal elements make their work the kind of albums that offer up something to every power metal palate.

[TUBE]hLFelI93VkM[/TUBE]


#3 (402 Points)
Napalm Death - Throes of Joy in the Jaws of  Defeatism
Grindcore


For a band well into it’s fourth decade of existence, Napalm Death is still producing music as strong and vital as at any time in the band’s celebrated and storied career. “Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism” is as uncompromising as any album the band has produced, but has subtleties and flourishes not immediately obvious on a first listen.

[TUBE]T5ChaOiPZGo[/TUBE]

#2 (404 Points)
Paradise Lost - Obsidian
Gothic Metal


 Paradise Lost throughout their career has been a band prepared to change musical direction as the mood takes them. Be it death-doom, doom or gothic metal their fans seem to stick with them no doubt because they rarely release anything subpar. After the last two doom orientated albums Obsidian sees the band returning to their gothic style but as usual they don’t disappoint with an album of strong and memorable songs.

[TUBE]URJH3ZJzxB0[/TUBE]


#1 (539 Points)
Hail Spirit Noir - Eden in Reverse
Progressive Metal


After producing three excellent albums that created a truly psychedelic take on black metal, it may have seemed like after Mayhem in Blue that the band could go no further and would soon head into stagnant waters. The band's answer to this problem is Eden in Reverse, their fourth album which also sees them greatly expanding their line-up, and also changing their sound completely. Gone is practically any trace of black metal, or any kind of extreme metal for that matter. In its place the band have delved more fully into their retro progressive rock/psych elements, while still being metal, creating an album that feels both familiar and fresh. Psychedelic metal hasn't really caught on much outside of some dabbling in black metal, doom metal and of course most obligatory stoner metal, but Hail Spirit Noir seem intent on changing that with this one. Is it a game changing album for metal sub-genres? Only time will tell. 

[TUBE]ehJtFcoR87k[/TUBE]


Many thanks to Adam (adg211288), Nicole (666sharon666), Patrick (Vim Fuego) and Khaliq (Unitron) for supplying write ups and to everyone who took the time to vote.

Releases by Main Sub-Genre (Top 101)

Progressive Metal: 18
Death Metal: 16
Black Metal: 12
Thrash Metal: 9
Power Metal: 8
Sludge Metal: 7
Heavy Metal: 6
Doom Metal: 6
Nu Metal: 3
Alternative Metal: 2
Folk Metal: 2
Grindcore: 2
Metalcore: 2
US Power Metal: 2
Gothic Metal: 1
Hard Rock: 1
Hardcore Punk: 1
Metal Related: 1
Speed Metal: 1
Symphonic Metal: 1



Nightfly2022-02-13 06:12:07]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16464 Tue, 02 Feb 2021 06:42:48 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16464 2021, Who can we expect new albums from this year?
For definite I'm looking forward to new albums from Asphyx, Tribulation and The Dead Daisies (now with Glenn Hughes on vocals). All 3 due end of January to early February. I also think one from Carcass at some point is a certainty.

I'm pretty sure We'll get one from Immolation at some point and Blood Ceremony must be due another by now but haven't heard anything.

Hopefully covid won't hold too many back.
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16445 Mon, 04 Jan 2021 12:51:06 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16445 MMA Best of Year 2020 Discussion Thread http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16431 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 08:55:19 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16431 MMA Best of Year 2020 Voting Thread MMA Best of Year 2020 Voting Thread

Welcome to MMA's public vote for the best metal and related albums of 2020. Voting is now open and will close on 31st January 2021. Please read the rules carefully before voting, particularly on inclusions and exclusions.

Who Can Vote?

Anyone with an MMA account, from new members to admins.

When is the Voting Deadline?

The deadline for submitting your votes is 31st January 2021 but may be extended if the vote count on that date is insufficient to form a meaningful result.

You may edit your submission at any point up until the closing date, so don't worry if you change your mind.

The vote only ends once an MMA admin posts in this thread saying that it is closed. After that point no new votes or edits will be counted. We will not go back and change anyone's submission once it has been added to our tally. 

What Can I Vote For?

You may vote for any release that is tagged as 2020 on Metal Music Archives with some restrictions:

Release Sub-Genre: Non-Metal and Proto-Metal tagged releases may NOT be voted for. The latter is likely to only have been used for any archival releases that may have come out during the year. These are not be counted among the best 2020 albums. Metal Related tagged albums are permitted, however we expect voters to use their discretion with such albums and considered whether a Metal Related tagged release really deserves to be placed on a metal website's best of year list.

Release Type: Live Album, Single, Boxset/Compilation, Demo, Promo/Other and Split may NOT be voted for. The exception where a split may be voted for is if it is a unique record in its own right containing unreleased material and not just a collection of tracks from the bands other releases. An examples of a split from a previous year that would count as acceptable is Spectral Lore/Mare Cognitum - Sol.  EP's are generally okay to vote for so long as they are made up entirely of new studio material. Ask an admin to verify a particular release if in doubt.


You cannot vote for something that is not in our database at all. If it should be, then please suggest the artist for inclusion as soon as possible, or if the artist is here but not the release, report the need for an update or add it yourself. 

Additionally, while recording musicians are welcome to take part, you may not vote for any release in which you took a part in recording, to avoid accusations of bias or rigging. 

Making Your Votes - Important: Read This

You may vote for up to 30 releases in your submission. There is no minimum, but it is preferable that you get as close to the maximum as you can without giving points away to releases that you don't actually like very much. 

Please only post one submission and edit it if you change your mind. We will work through adding everyone's votes from the start of this voting thread which means that your earliest submission will be the one that is counted. We will not go back and edit the one we have already taken if we encounter a second from the same member. 

Please lay your submission out in the following format only - others will not be counted.

Artist – Release
Artist – Release 

And so forth, where the album you list first is your top album of the year. 

To be perfectly clear, this means no numbering, no Release – Artist lists, no spaces between each line (your list should be a maximum of 30 lines long, one for each album) and no commentary on your choices, at least in line (you may talk about or campaign for your choices separately to your heart's content). To help keep this voting thread free of clutter use the MMA Best of Year 2020 Discussion thread for more in depth comments and discussions. http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16431&PID=228496&#228496

You should also use the standard forum font and colour (you're reading it now!). It should not look like this. 

And especially important: no reverse lists even when the rest of this is taken into account: you don't want us to count your opinion in the wrong order and give the most points to your 30th ranked album instead of your first. 

Sticking to the requested format speeds up tallying the result considerably, so please be considerate and stick to it. Admins may edit the formatting before the tally but do not count on it!

Other Things to Consider - Important: Read This

MMA is a website run by a small group of volunteers who have to get most of their information about what they add from outside sources, rather than personal experience. Should you encounter a release placed in a sub-genre that is eligible, tagged as 2020 or as the wrong release type, but you know it's misplaced or mistagged (this is especially important if a release should actually be in Non-Metal), that doesn't mean you should ignore it and can go ahead and include it in your submission. We check every release that makes it onto our final tally and if we find a release that shouldn't have been included in anyone's votes, we often end up having to completely recalculate the whole result, which just wastes our time. So please, for the sake of everyone involved's sanity, report releases that are tagged wrong in some way. Don't just go ahead and try to get it into our results. Thank you for your understanding. 

How Will the Submissions be Scored?

We will be using a score range of 1 to 100 points, rewarding higher placed albums on submitted lists with more points. The exact breakdown from 1st place to 30th is as follows:

Place - Points
1 – 100
2 – 85
3 – 70
4 – 60
5 – 55
6 – 50
7 – 47
8 – 44
9 – 41
10 – 38
11 – 35
12 – 32
13 – 29
14 – 26
15 – 23
16 – 20
17 – 18
18 – 16
19 – 14
20 – 12
21 – 10
22 – 9
23 – 8
24 – 7
25 – 6
26 – 5
27 – 4
28 – 3
29 – 2
30 - 1

How Can I Help Promote This Vote?

The best way that you can help out is just spread that it is happening via word of mouth and to share that it is happening on social media. If you know others who like metal, both online and off, invite them to take part. This is a public vote, so we don't require those who take part to be MMA veterans. 

Have fun!
Nightfly2020-12-12 08:59:42]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16430 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 08:39:57 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16430 What exactly is wrong with Uada? Ever since they hit the black metal scene US melodic black metal act Uada has been an 'in' band to hate on and I've never been unable to understand why. It's become even more evident than ever with the release of their third album Djinn, which can't even break a 3 star average rating on RYM (which on that site is basically saying it's irredemable crap).

Most of what I see said against Uada is usally along the lines of Mgla this or Mgla that. And I get that even less when Uada belongs to a different sub-genre of black metal than Mgla. And even if they did sound like Mgla, we're talking about black metal here. It's genre overpopulation taken to extreme levels and so many bands out there actively trying to just be cold, raw and kvlt that it's a total cliché, yet none of these bands will ever be criticised half as much as Uada has been, or any other 'in' black metal act to hate, like Carach Angren or Myrkur.

So why the bandwagon against Uada? And just what the hell has Mgla really got to do with it? In fact people on RYM are now accusing them of trying too hard to not sounding like Mgla on the new record. So it looks like the argument against them just changes no matter what, just so that the hatewagon against the band can continue.

Here are some samples of Uada's music.

[TUBE]UVZ2X39mxgU[/TUBE]

[TUBE]1WeeMHq3I3Y[/TUBE]

[TUBE]jedreldwSiY[/TUBE]
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16404 Tue, 06 Oct 2020 06:38:27 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16404 Creating VERY RAW metal on a smartphone
Here is what I got in result: 

The Gates Are Getting Closed Forever

It's All In A Haoos Of The Night Air 

Surrepticious Decay 

Miss Class And Quality? - F*cking For Hours 

Punished By The Servants Of Iris The Go(a)ttess... (Proclamation) 

The Death Of The Moth 


I personally like it very very much. I think these were masterpieces that wholly reflected my feelings, state of whatever, whatever. 

On the other hand, there are also other human beings in the outer world. Whether they would like these ones is still a question to me. 

Confused Confused
metallero2020-10-02 16:09:07]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16403 Fri, 02 Oct 2020 15:58:41 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16403 New Deftones album "Ohms" is a grower
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xKq199FENBE&t=146sBalthamel2020-09-27 04:49:07]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16398 Sun, 27 Sep 2020 04:47:11 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16398 Slayer logo poorly photoshopped on unrelated image Slayer logo poorly Photoshopped on unrelated images

My workmate just sent me a link to this Facebook page. It's pure genius!LOL

I can't get the link to work, so follow this:

https://www.facebook.com/Slayer-logo-poorly-photoshopped-on-unrelated-images-1369825939709635/
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16379 Mon, 17 Aug 2020 15:40:10 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16379 New Ayreon album Transitus
Vocalists Announced So Far:

Tom Baker (Doctor Who) as The Narrator
Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as Daniel
Cammie Gilbert (Oceans of Slumber) as Abby
Micheal Mills (Toehider) as The Statue
Amanda Somerville (ex-Aina, Trillium) as Lavinia
Paul Manzi (Arena) as Henry
Dianne van Giersbergen (Ex Libris, ex-Xandria) as The Soprano
Johanne James (Threshold) as Abby's father Abraham
Simone Simons (Epica) as The Angel of Death
Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) as Daniel's Father

Guest Guitarist:

Joe Satriani 
adg2112882020-06-08 01:17:54]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16334 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 04:33:35 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16334 Popular Acts/Albums You Dislike?
I think for me the main act I always disliked is Pain of Salvation, though I admit it's been a long time since I tried any of their music. The band was a natural stepping stone on my journey through discovering progressive metal and I recall having extremely high expectations of them. But they do little to nothing for me and after trying three albums from them the final straw with them was finding that I enjoyed The Perfect Element Pt 1 the least of the three. 

Other albums that I know are well liked but I hated include:

Leprous - Bilateral 
Sepultura - Roots 

The latter of these is an album I initially liked but it wore thin for me pretty quick. 
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16309 Wed, 22 Apr 2020 06:16:27 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16309 The Dumbest Concept Album Stories http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16304 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 01:34:48 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16304 Zero Hour - New review of old albums http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16295 Wed, 08 Apr 2020 07:18:25 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16295 MUSIC CREATION IN CONFINEMENT ? Did you make music during the confinement? Does it sound sicker than usual?
Does it sound more angry and brutal, or more depressed and sorrowful?
Post some links! ]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16294 Tue, 07 Apr 2020 08:13:05 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16294 MMA best of the 2010s - discussion thread main thread adg2112882020-12-15 03:21:18]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16261 Tue, 25 Feb 2020 10:34:28 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16261 MMA Best of the 2010s Voting Thread MMA's Best of the Decade 2010 - 2019 Voting Thread

Welcome to MMA's public vote for the best albums of the last decade. Don't panic, we know what you're thinking: making a submission that you will be completely happy with for this is going to be a task and a half. Therefore this is not something we are rushing with. In fact, you will have until the end of June 2020 to decide on your submission. Voting is officially open from now and until then. 

Who Can Vote?

Anyone, provided that you have signed up for a free MMA forum account. 

When is the Deadline?

The last full day of voting will be June 30th, 2020. Official closure for new votes and edits will be made by an admin at some point on July 1st, 2020. Do not rely on this leeway to post your list.

Can I Change My Submission?

Yes! But only while the vote remains open. Please also edit your existing submission rather than posting a new one. 

Please do not rely on leeway time or the fact that results take time to compile and create a presentation as a guarantee that you will be able to change your list last minute. 

What's Eligible to be Voted For?

Genres: All except Non-Metal and Proto-Metal (shouldn't ever happen, but just in case). We're sorry about the firm no to Non-Metal and do acknowledge that there are many albums that are not metal out there which are very good, of interest to metal fans and not completely out of place to be included on the site, but as a metal website we would look ridiculous if, hypothetically, we ran this vote and the album that came out on top was something like Opeth's decidedly non-metallic Pale Communion or Blind Guardian's orchestral Legacy of the Dark Lands and we had to proclaim something like those as the best metal and heavy music had to offer in the last decade. That's why we disallow anything under the Non-Metal tag. 

Metal Related, on the other hand, is allowed, but please show consideration over which Metal Related releases you vote for. Not all are included in that sub-genre for equal reasons. Metal Related and Non-Metal also previously shared a sub-genre, so there might still be some lingering mistagged releases (please see Other Considerations below). Ask yourself: does that particular Metal Related release deserve to be on a metal website's best of the decade list? We're talking consideration over it's actual genre, not it's quality. 

Year: Tagged as 2010 to 2019 on Metal Music Archives.

Release Type: Full-Length, EP* or Split**

* While generally OK, EP's should only be put forth is they constitute a unique release of studio material that was new for the time period being voted on. Some EP's actually contain older songs, demos, live tracks and are in truth more like a mini compilation. 

** Splits must constitute a unique release from all involved parties and not just be tracks pulled from elsewhere. It doesn't count however if those tracks on the split were later released individually by one artist or as bonus tracks to a later release. The split must simply be unique at the time of its release while still not being a joint teaser for close to release albums. An example we use to demonstrate the kind of split that is okay is Sol by Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum, which in fact is an eligible release for this vote.

When in doubt on either of these, it is best to consult an admin for verification. 

Special consideration: Re-recorded albums - these are a grey area. Some artists promote such a release as a full-length (allowed). Others as a compilation (disallowed). As such it's best to avoid completely re-recorded releases altogether. 

Included on MMA: You cannot vote for anything that we don't actually have included on MMA. If we should have something, but don't, it is your responsibility to alert us to that fact so we can correct it. You can:



Final Note, for Recording Artists: We do not allow recording artists to vote for any release that they took a part in recording themselves. 

Making Your Votes:

You may vote for anything up to 50 releases in this vote. While we are not setting an minimum, it is preferable that you do your best to get as close to the maximum as you can: you do have a whole decade's worth of releases to pick and choose from. Obviously though, try not to give points to releases that you don't actually like very much just to submit a full list. 

Please lay your submission out in the following format only - others will not be counted.

Artist – Release
Artist – Release 

And so forth, where the album you list first is your top album of the decade and will receive the most of your points. 

To be perfectly clear, this means no numbering, no Release – Artist lists, no spaces between each line (your list should be a maximum of 50 lines long, one for each album) and no commentary on your choices, at least in line (you may talk about or campaign for your choices separately to your heart's content). 

You should also use the standard forum font and colour (you're reading it now!). It should not looklike this. 

And especially important: no reverse lists even when the rest of this is taken into account: you don't want us to count your opinion in the wrong order and give the most points to your 50th ranked album instead of your 1st. 

Sticking to the requested format speeds up tallying the result considerably, so please be considerate and stick to it. Admins may edit the formatting before the tally but do not count on it!

Quoted below as an example is a portion of my personal submission for the best of 2019 vote. If your submission formatting does not look like this, you've done it wrong. Tip: On Windows open Notepad or similar, paste your list in, make sure there are no gaps between the lines, then copy and paste to the forum editor. 

[QUOTE]Opeth - In Cauda Venenum
Cult of Luna - A Dawn to Fear
Avatarium - The Fire I Long For
Arch/Matheos - Winter Ethereal
Blood Incantation - Hidden History of the Human Race
Astralium - Land of Eternal Dreams
Blazon Stone - Hymns of Triumph and Death
Waste of Space Orchestra - Syntheosis
Wilderun - Veil of Imagination[/QUOTE]

Other Considerations

MMA is a website run by a small group of volunteers who have to get most of their information about what they add from outside sources, rather than personal experience of the music. Should you encounter a release placed in a sub-genre that is eligible, tagged as 2010-2019 and has an acceptable release type, but you know that any one of these things is incorrect (it might actually be a demo or a compilation, be from 2009 or 2020 or be someone's Non-Metal release), then you must report it to us.

While we apologise for the mistake, we do rely on our user base to report these mistakes when they see them, not simply ignore them and that's extra important for these votes. A mistake on our part doesn't mean that a release is okay to include in your submission. If you're voting for it, you've heard it, and you probably know more about it than we do. And we need you to speak up. 

This is especially true if a release should actually be tagged as Non-Metal, which is not edible to be included at all. We've had previous best of year votes almost ruined by users trying to include Non-Metal releases in their submissions, including high up on their lists where the most points are given. MMA is a metal website. We are okay with Hard Rock, Hardcore Punk and Metal Related releases getting into the result for this, but we draw a firm line on completely Non-Metal stuff. Thank you for your understanding. 

How the Submissions Will be Scored

Because the list size we are asking for is larger than our usual best of year score chart, we've had to do a re-working. However the score chart follows the same principle: winners are rewarded more points than the bottom end of your list. From #1 to #50, points will be distributed as follows:

150
145
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
96
92
88
84
80
76
72
68
64
60
57
54
51
48
45
42
39
36
33
30
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

Special Bonus Vote: Non-Metal

We know that a lot of you here have quite the interest in the Non-metal albums made by our metal artists or related artists, which is why as a mini bonus vote, we're also asking for a short list, maximum 10 releases (same other considerations apply to release type, year, etc), scored 10 down to 1, that consists only of Non-Metal tagged releases. Again as pointed out above, Non-Metal and Metal Related did once share a sub so it is possible for there to be some mistakes regarding this, so do make sure the tag is correct either way. 

We will only post the bonus round if it gets enough votes and otherwise has no bearing on the main presentation we hope to give you in July. 

The Non-Metal bonus vote has been cancelled to allow complete focus on the main vote.
adg2112882020-07-01 10:54:33]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16260 Sun, 23 Feb 2020 13:52:23 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16260 Zero Hour news It’s official......ZERO HOUR IS BACK! Jasun Tipton

Drums and guitars are officially tracked. The man bringing it on the drums is the extremely talented Roel van Helden! He’s such a BEAST of a player and so STOKED for his contribution. Drums were recorded at Kohlekeller studios (Germany) by Kai Stahlenberg. A drum video with follow in the coming days. We’re going back to the sound of our first two release “Metamorphosis” and The Towers of Avarice”. We have a very, very talented bass player starting to move on the tracks and will announce at a later time. On vocals will be Erik Rosvold Erik Rosvold and we’re very excited with the process. Please help us spread the word and share to friends who are listeners of Zero Hour!


https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=zero%20hour%20the%20towers%20of%20avarice&epa=SEARCH_BOX

]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16257 Wed, 19 Feb 2020 19:13:54 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16257 Late 2019 Releases (Don't Miss For Best of Year) http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16232&FID=3&PR=3&title=mma-best-of-year-2019-public-voting-thread

The album I am going to throw in here to recommend is one that just made my list a couple of days ago. The band was not on here prior to this (but is now, of course) but this is their third album.




In Human Form is a progressive black metal act. III is a three track album where the first and last track are both lengthy epics (by other band's standards, the middle track is also substantial). A mix of classic black metal sound with prog and features some quite liberal use of saxophone in some instances, I found it an impressive record that cracked my top 30 with ease on a single listen. The album was released on December 13th and wasn't on my radar at all until discovering it through a different act. 

III can be streamed in its entirety on record label I, Voidhanger Records (coincidentally one of my favourite labels to discover new stuff on) bandcamp: https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/iii-2

I hope some of you will take the time to check these one out and to drop us some of your late late 2019 finds that we've probably missed out on so far. Thumbs Up
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16244 Mon, 20 Jan 2020 23:35:04 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16244 Ultimate Timeline of METAL MUSIC Milestone Moments Hey MMA metaheads! Check out my new list on Rate Your Music....

Ultimate Timeline of METAL MUSIC Milestone Moments



This is a list of unique METAL MUSIC moments.
A historical analysis of FIRSTS within the greater metal universe.
This is a tribute to the trendsetters and creative minds,
Who catapulted the genre  into the new arenas.
Anything missing? Any mistakes? Please do tell!
Be aware that this is NOT a best albums list.
This is a tribute to innovation.
All the album's on this list were either influential
Or they were unique in some sort of way
Which made the metal scene a more colorful genre.

So if anyone has any ideas of what to add or any corrections LEMME KNOW!!! Thanks :)





siLLy puPPy2020-01-15 10:19:46]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16242 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 10:18:01 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16242 MMA Best of Year 2019 Public Voting Thread MMA Best of Year 2019 Public Voting Thread

Welcome to MMA's public vote for the best metal and related albums of 2019! Voting officially opens on January 1st however we are releasing the rules and voting thread a day early so it's ready and available. If you do make your votes before January 1st, don't worry, we will still count them. 

Who Can Vote?

Anyone with an MMA account, from new members to admins.

When is the Voting Deadline?

The deadline for submitting your votes is February 15th 2020.

You may edit your submission at any point up until the closing date, so don't worry if you change your mind.

There is a little leeway for last minute edits, dependant on what time of the day we can look at the results. The vote only ends once an MMA admin posts in this thread saying that it is closed. After that point no new votes or edits will be counted. Be warned that we collect votes based on the order they appear in this voting thread, so the earlier you post, the earlier your votes be counted and the less leeway you will have to change them. We will not go back and change anyone's submission once it has been added to our tally. 

What Can I Vote For?

You may vote for any release that is tagged as 2019 on Metal Music Archives with some restrictions:

Release Sub-Genre: Non-Metal and Proto-Metal tagged releases may not be voted for. The latter is likely to only have been used for any archival releases that may have come out during the year. These are not be counted among the best 2019 albums. Metal Related tagged albums are permitted, however we expect voters to use their discretion with such albums and considered whether a Metal Related tagged release really deserves to be placed on a metal website's best of year list.

Release Type: Live Album, Single, Boxset/Compilation, Demo, Promo/Other and Split (unless that split can be considered a full, unique record in its own right* and is not just random tracks taken from the contributor's other releases) may not be voted for. EP's are generally okay to vote for so long as they are made up entirely of new studio material. Ask an admin to verify a particular release if in doubt.

* An examples of a split from a previous year that would count as acceptable is Spectral Lore/Mare Cognitum - Sol. 

You cannot vote for something that is not in our database at all. If it should be, then please suggest the artist for inclusion as soon as possible, or if the artist is here but not the release, report the need for an update or add it yourself. 

Additionally, while recording musicians are welcome to take part, you may not vote for any release in which you took a part in recording, to avoid accusations of bias or rigging. 

Making Your Votes - Important: Read This

You may vote for up to 30 releases in your submission. There is no minimum, but it is preferable that you get as close to the maximum as you can without giving points away to releases that you don't actually like very much. 

Please only post one submission and edit it if you change your mind. We will work through adding everyone's votes from the start of this voting thread which means that your earliest submission will be the one that is counted. We will not go back and edit the one we have already taken if we encounter a second from the same member. 

Please lay your submission out in the following format only - others will not be counted.

Artist – Release
Artist – Release 

And so forth, where the album you list first is your top album of the year. 

To be perfectly clear, this means no numbering, no Release – Artist lists, no spaces between each line (your list should be a maximum of 30 lines long, one for each album) and no commentary on your choices, at least in line (you may talk about or campaign for your choices separately to your heart's content). 

You should also use the standard forum font and colour (you're reading it now!). It should not look like this. 

And especially important: no reverse lists even when the rest of this is taken into account: you don't want us to count your opinion in the wrong order and give the most points to your 30th ranked album instead of your first. 

Sticking to the requested format speeds up tallying the result considerably, so please be considerate and stick to it. Admins may edit the formatting before the tally but do not count on it!

Other Things to Consider - Important: Read This

MMA is a website run by a small group of volunteers who have to get most of their information about what they add from outside sources, rather than personal experience. Should you encounter a release placed in a sub-genre that is eligible, tagged as 2019 or as the wrong release type, but you know it's misplaced or mistagged (this is especially important if a release should actually be in Non-Metal), that doesn't mean you should ignore it and can go ahead and include it in your submission. We check every release that makes it onto our final tally and if we find a release that shouldn't have been included in anyone's votes, we often end up having to completely recalculate the whole result, which just wastes our time. So please, for the sake of everyone involved's sanity, report releases that are tagged wrong in some way. Don't just go ahead and try to get it into our results. Last year's presentation was almost ruined because of this. Thank you for your understanding. 

How Will the Submissions be Scored?

We will be using a score range of 1 to 100 points, rewarding higher placed albums on submitted lists with more points. The exact breakdown from 1st place to 30th is as follows:

Place - Points
1 – 100
2 – 85
3 – 70
4 – 60
5 – 55
6 – 50
7 – 47
8 – 44
9 – 41
10 – 38
11 – 35
12 – 32
13 – 29
14 – 26
15 – 23
16 – 20
17 – 18
18 – 16
19 – 14
20 – 12
21 – 10
22 – 9
23 – 8
24 – 7
25 – 6
26 – 5
27 – 4
28 – 3
29 – 2
30 - 1

How Can I Help Promote This Vote?

The best way that you can help out is just spread that it is happening via word of mouth and to share that it is happening on social media. If you know others who like metal, both online and off, invite them to take part. This is a public vote, so we don't require those who take part to be MMA veterans. 
adg2112882020-02-15 07:30:28]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16232 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 05:50:53 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16232 Onkos - Death Metal Gone Acoustic
It's essentially death metal, especially in the vocals, but the music is acoustic. 

[TUBE]PO09EJoy__Q[/TUBE]
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16224 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 08:30:36 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16224 Most unique metal acts/albums you own/have heard
For me, the following acts spring to mind:

Hail Spirit Noir - psychedelic black metal. A term that is often misused, but these guys actually nail it. I have heard some call them 'Black Floyd' before now.

[TUBE]nQ1oop-wvjs[/TUBE]

[TUBE]ZVNgzmeqMjw[/TUBE]

[TUBE]71c7GC-Aua4[/TUBE]

[TUBE]jFnxRDDg9ec[/TUBE]


Breed 77 - Alternative Metal with Flamenco elements. This lat metal band adds flamenco guitar passages to their sound. 

[TUBE]dALkpQMoo3U[/TUBE]

[TUBE]Z8s2guILiNo[/TUBE]

[TUBE]SqRAEW4WN2w[/TUBE]

[TUBE]b19F7ojT1K4[/TUBE]


Aquilus - atmospheric black metal with extensive classical passages and dark folk elements. 

[TUBE]NheeMq-HUpg[/TUBE]

[TUBE]TwmYzgM4n_M[/TUBE]


Might be more later, short of time right now. 
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16183 Sat, 23 Nov 2019 02:02:18 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16183 Ways Metal Could Develop in the Future
It makes me wonder just how metal will continue to develop over the next decade and beyond. What new sound fusions either haven't been explored at all or are currently very obscure. What bands that already exist might one may be considered precursors to a new genre? Who's doing something unique now? How to you feel about the way metal has change since the turn of millennium? 

I thought this might be an interesting thing to discuss as we come close to the end of the 2010s.
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16178 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 01:04:42 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16178 Any 2019 albums to recommend?
Anyone got any recommendations? Most of you know I like a little of almost everything metal, plus hard rock. 
]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16146 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 06:43:20 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16146 New POSSESSED album after 32 years!!!


Evil Smile 

Possessed announce new album ‘Revelations Of Oblivion’ 

POSSESSED have announced a new album!

Titled Revelations of Oblivion, the upcoming album is the first new music from the legendary death metallers for three decades and is scheduled to be released in May this year!

The upcoming album was recorded at NRG Studios and Titan Studios with JeffBecerra as executive producer and Daniel Gonzalez as co-producer for the album. Mixing and mastering was handled by Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN, BLOODBATH) at Abyss Studios in Sweden. For the artwork, the band enlisted Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak (PARADISE LOST, ABSU, DEICIDE, GHOST, GORGUTS).

Speaking about the upcoming album, vocalist Jeff Becerra says, â€œWorking with Peter was a fantastic experience. We put a great deal of thought into who we wanted to produce our new album. Since we hadn’t made an all-new material release in well over 30 years, it was essential that we found the right person. Peter‘s name kept coming up over and over, and after speaking with my bandmates they all really liked Peter as he is more organic, and somebody we felt would fit in well with our process. This album from start to release has been a fantastic experience. All of us in POSSESSED hope you enjoy this newest release and we look forward to touring and creating much more new music in the future. We appreciate all of your support and dedication. Hope to see you during our upcoming tours & shows soon. Thank you to each and every one of you for your inspiration and dedication to POSSESSED.”

Alongside the announcement of the new album, the band have released the first taster from the upcoming album; titled No More Room In Hell.

Track List: 

1. Chant Of Oblivion
2. No More Room In Hell
3. Dominion
4. Damned
5. Demon
6. Abandoned
7. Shadowcult
8. Omen
9. Ritual
10. The Word
11. Graven
12. Temple Of Samael

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Revelations of Oblivion is set for release on May 10th via Nuclear Blast Records.

For more information on POSSESSED like their official page on Facebook.


siLLy puPPy2019-03-19 20:55:01]]> http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16110 Tue, 19 Mar 2019 20:49:19 -0600 http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16110