2018 Themed Mixtape Game

[Vegard Pompey]

Gotta continue the noble UM tradition of waiting several weeks before rating the new mixtape.

 

[dwellerINTHEdark]

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Blood Runner
It's ight. Digging the rhythm guitar tone. 6/10.

Miscreance - Alchemy
Almost irritating. 5/10.

Yob - Ablaze
Haven't given this album a listen yet. Saw them open for Enslaved a few years back, quality show. This is also quality. 7/10.

Sacral Rage - Necropia
Sick artwork. Can't quite tolerate them vocals. 5/10.

Mooncitadel - Dance of a Dark Pagan Spell (The Dreaming Equinox)
Cavernous black metal is the shit. Nice little acoustic ditty at the end. 9/10.

Chemicaust - Vanished
Face melting stuffs. 8/10.

Sigh - Homo Monini Lupus
Sigh is a weird little band that always manages to entertain. 8/10.

Beyond Creation - Surface's Echoes
Really liking the vocal contrast. Nice bassline too. 8/10.

Teleport - Beholder of the Silent Sea
This is good shit, primal in its own way. 8/10.

Communion - Secret Rites
Compelling and aggressive. Nice run of tracks here. 8/10.

Azusa - Interstellar Islands
A nice mix of styles and again good use of vocal contrast. 8/10.

Blood Curse - Isabelle
All good runs must come to an end. Pretty bland track. 5/10.

Madder Mortem - Stumble On
Decent for what it is. Was hoping it would go somewhere more exciting. 6/10.

Manacle - Fight for Your Life
Pretty tame. 4/10.

 

[Slayed Necros]

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Blood Runner

Passable music, nearly intolerable vocals. 4/10

Miscreance - Alchemy

Impressive for a demo. I liked this sort of thing a lot more 10-15 years ago. 7/10

Yob - Ablaze

I feel nothing. 3/10

Sacral Rage - Necropia

Been meaning to check this out seeing as I enjoyed their debut. This is great. 8/10

Mooncitadel - Dance of a Dark Pagan Spell (The Dreaming Equinox)

Admittedly a little wimpy sounding, especially regarding production, but I can't pass up the classic sounding melodies. 7/10

Chemicaust - Vanished

Competent and sufficiently thrashing but beyond that there isn't too much of interest here for me. 6/10

Sigh - Homo Homini Lupus

Hated the brief clean vocal sections but overall liked this more than I expected. 6/10

Beyond Creation - Surface's Echoes

Does anyone that isn't a musician like this? Ultra slick and nearly unlistenable. 2/10

Teleport - Beholder of the Silent Sea

Especially effective after the Beyond Creation song. Good stuff. 8/10

Communion - Secret Rites

Riffs and BARBARISM. 9/10

Azusa - Interstellar Islands

An aural abomination. 1/10

Blood Curse - Isabelle

It's all right. I wouldn't turn it off but I'm not eager to hear more either. 5/10

Madder Mortem - Stumble On

When the non-metal sections are better than the metal sections you know you have a winner. 4/10

Manacle - Fight For Your Life

Modern heavy metal often seems to just go in one ear and out the other for me. More interesting than the Blood Curse song though. 6.5/10

 

[Phylactery]

I absolutely hated that Azusa song when I listened to the tracks I wasn’t familiar with. Glad to see I’m not the only one!

Speaking of modern heavy metal, did you listen to the new Satan? It’s really good.

 

[Slayed Necros]

Only a couple of songs. I need to give it a proper listen. Liked what I heard though.

 

[CiG]

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Blood Runner 7/10
Sounds like a fuzzy Fleetwood Mac off-shoot or something.

Miscreance - Alchemy 9/10
Big fan of this, hopefully they get their due and record a studio album. So much potential.

Yob - Ablaze 6/10
Better (or should I say less boring and bloated) than I was expecting, actually.

Sacral Rage - Necropia 9/10
Galloping tech trad with some Voivodian dissonant riffing and vocals that seer the mind. King Diamond in space.

Mooncitadel - Dance of a Dark Pagan Spell (The Dreaming Equinox) 8/10
Otherworldly! This band has been slowly growing on me lately. Listening to it in a playlist of different styles really makes me appreciate the subtlety of the composition and just how much is actually going on. Production did initially seem wimpy to me but I'm starting to like it a lot.

Chemicaust - Vanished 7.5/10
Oh yeah this crushes. No bullshit no gimmicks classic thrash metal. Need to check this album out I think, I like the cover art a lot.

Sigh - Homo Monini Lupus 5/10
Never sure how to feel about this band. I like it in some ways, but then they throw something at me that pulls me out of the experience.

Beyond Creation - Surface's Echoes 7/10
Once upon a time I would have despised this... these days I enjoy it. This was good, not great, but enjoyable.

Teleport - Beholder of the Silent Sea 9/10
Insanely impressive demo, listened to it a few times since it came out and it just gets better and better with each listen.

Communion - Secret Rites 8/10
Nice and violent, in the traditions of early Cogumelo noize and some Blasphemy etc. I really need to get around to properly checking these guys out.

Azusa - Interstellar Islands 7.5/10
Pretty interesting! Jazzy, mathy, progressive, I even hear some Voivod at times, aggressive, technical, schizophrenic, dissonant, poppy, ethereal, dreamy... so many elements crammed into under 4 minutes. Unfortunately I think the singer being female will mean this music is badly interpreted by most metal fans, but I like it. Will definitely have to explore further.

Blood Curse - Isabelle 6/10
Some nice fat riffs and some gallops.

Madder Mortem - Stumble On 6/10
With this band the metal elements are becoming more and more redundant, they should just stop trying to have a foot in both camps and go full folk rock, because when they do that they impress me, then the boring metal bits come in and I lose interest. I like their female singer a lot though, so I could never hate this, not even a bit.

Manacle - Fight for Your Life 7.5/10
This record rules, it's so urgent and youthful. So utterly desperate, like a back alley knife fight in heavy metal form. Rough around the edges, with lots of melody hidden beneath the grubby aura of the music, a fantastic vocalist. They have the goods man.

 

[CiG]

bump

 

[Sophii]

Here goes nothing

Uncle Acid And the Dead Beats - Blood Runner 7/10

Compared to their prior releases, this is really upbeat and driving! I dig it better than Ghost's attempt at this sound.


Miscreance - Alchemy (8/10)

Really loving the technical thrash/death metal worship of Sadus and Atheist type of bands here. Gives my brain a whirl.


Yob - Ablaze (5/10)

I used to really like YOB but here lately its just kind of a snoozer. The atmosphere is really cool though.


Sacral Rage - Necropia (9/10)

This is fucking awesome! I really like the futuristic themes and those soaring vocals. Definitely will check this band out more.


Mooncitadel - Dance of the Dark Pagan Spell (4/10)

Didn't really care for this too much. But I think its because I'm already half and half about black metal in general anyway.


Sigh - Homo Hominid Lupus (9.5/10)

To contradict what I said above, new Sigh kicks ass. They stay weird, inflicting their own style of progressive black metal with trad metal guitars and unique vocals.


Beyond Creation - Surface's Echoes (8/10)

I used to get bored of these guys but damn, they got me here. Its pretty sleek, but killing it with those guitar tones and intricate riffs. Definitely need more of it.


Communion - Secret Rites (8/10)

Super primal and dangerous, as well as straight to the point. It doesn't disappoint.


Bloodcurse- Isabell (7/10)

Pretty solid riffs! It kinda gets repetitive though, but I still enjoy it.


Madder Mortem - Stumble On (10/10)

I was floored with this. Perfect vocals, perfect riffs, perfect atmosphere, everything. I need more of these guys. I loooove her voice.


Manacle - Fight For Your Life (8/10)

These are solid as hell riffs, with a nice intro and everything. Its build up is crisp and satisfying


Azusa - Interstellar Islands (9.5/10)

As a fan of most Solid State bands, I wasn't surprised by how good this was. Total Extol worship with amazing female vocals.


Chemicaust - Vanished (9/10)

ODSM that doesn't let up. Really enjoyed how angry this shit is.


Teleport - Beholder of the Silent Sea (9.5/10)

I love how these atmospheric/progressive death metal bands are getting better out these years. Less sleek clinical production and more focus on the atmosphere is growing, like Artificial Brain and such. I get a very futuristic vibe with this too. Will check out these guys more.

 

[Krow]

I definitely should have submitted one of the death metal songs I had in mind instead of what I did.

I’ll rate this weekend.

 

[Phylactery]

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Blood Runner 5/10
​

Miscreance - Alchemy 8/10

I want to like this more but it's not quite as fluid as Atheist at their best, but still pretty interesting stuff. Vocalist oddly reminds me of the one from Forest and they don't work particularly well in this context for me.

Yob - Ablaze 5/10

Might have rated this lower if I didn't know it gets much worse later on. Pretty dull.

Sacral Rage - Necropia 8.5/10

Parts of this song are amazing. Good stuff.

Mooncitadel - Dance of a Dark Pagan Spell (The Dreaming Equinox) 8.5/10

Of course, fucking love this shit.

Chemicaust - Vanished 6/10

Serviceable. The vocals are the best thing about it tbh, they're pretty good.

Sigh - Homo Monini Lupus 7/10

CIG's comment sums this up for me, except I liked it a bit more than he did overall. Not something I'd usually listen to, but it kept me entertained.

Beyond Creation - Surface's Echoes 4/10

Impressive in the way it manages to contain nearly everything I don't want to hear in a death metal song. Not for me.

Teleport - Beholder of the Silent Sea 7.5/10
Pretty good.

Communion - Secret Rites 8.5/10

Not the song I would have picked from this album, but still it fucking obliterates everything in its path. Chainsaw riffing.

Azusa - Interstellar Islands 2/10

Hideous.

Blood Curse - Isabelle 5.5/10

Eh, it's just kinda there.

Madder Mortem - Stumble On 3/10

Awful.

Manacle - Fight for Your Life 7.5/10

Second half of the song rocks.

 

[Burkhard]

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Blood Runner
Okay, but doesn't do much for me. 5,5/10

Miscreance - Alchemy
I like the music, but I'm not too fond of the vocals. 6/10

Yob - Ablaze
A bit too monotonous for my taste and the vocals are just average. 6/10

Sacral Rage - Necropia
So far the best song for me. The vocals remind me of Jason McMaster. 8,5/10

Mooncitadel - Dance of a Dark Pagan Spell (The Dreaming Equinox)
The music isn't that bad, but the song is too long, the production rather poor and the artificial "evil" vocals sound like I'd imagine Rumpelstiltskin cursing after his identity has been revealed. 3/10

Chemicaust - Vanished
Decent thrash metal song. 7/10

Sigh - Homo Homini Lupus
The video art immediately looked familiar and a quick search confirmed it was the same guy who did the animation for Madder Mortem's clip of "Far from Home". The music is mostly enjoyable, but the vocals are - with the exception of a few parts - heading too much in the Rumpelstiltskin-direction for me. 6,5/10

Beyond Creation - Surface's Echoes
A karaoke version of this song without the blast beat parts might have gotten a 6-7/10-rating from me, but this song does not only feature several blast beat parts, but also two of my least favourite types of vocals. Therefore only 2/10

Teleport - Beholder of the Silent Sea
Nothing I'd like to listen to again. 3/10

Communion - Secret Rites
This song simply goes on my nerves. 2/10

Azusa - Interstellar Islands
Difficult to rate. The music sounds interesting, though maybe a bit too chaotic (at first glance). The mixture of clean and harsh vocals reminds me of Dominique Lenore Persi (Stolen Babies), but I find the clean voice of the latter far more appealing - the same goes for Stolen Babies' music. So far: 7/10

Blood Curse - Isabelle
Seriously? Even way back in the eighties, when I had just discovered metal, this wouldn't have impressed me. (And the cover artwork looks like it was "inspired" by two of the three different covers of "Night on Bröcken".) 5/10

Madder Mortem - Stumble On
I really like the clean powerful female vocals and the music doesn't give me the feeling of "I have heard this a thousand times and better before". Based only on the vocals and music, I'd rate it somewhere between 8,5 and 9 (because it gets a bit too repetitive over the last two minutes), but because of the lyrics I give it a 9,5/10.

Manacle - Fight for Your Life
I don't know why, but even though the music isn't overly original, I'd say this is - together with Sacral rage - my second favourite song in this playlist. 8,5/10

 

[Krow]

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Blood Runner
8.5/10. The bands best album for quite a while. Underappreciated here because of genre.

Miscreance - Alchemy
5/10. I dont care to ever hear this again.

Yob - Ablaze
6/10. It's Yob. It's kinda overly long. probably their worst album, played it once then shelved it. the whole Mastodon masquerade doesnt make this better at all.

Sacral Rage - Necropia
8/10. Great album

Mooncitadel - Dance of a Dark Pagan Spell (The Dreaming Equinox)
8.5/10. I know this forum as a whole tends to be moving away from black metal but this is a pretty excellent black metal track. I know I told @Phylactery he was overrating this but it's either much better than I remember or I'm just in the mood.

Chemicaust - Vanished
5/10. Forgettable thrash metal; the reckoning.

Sigh - Homo Monini Lupus
8/10. This is weird and cool. Glad to hear new Sigh that I enjoy. Need to grab this one.

Beyond Creation - Surface's Echoes
4/10. Couldnt finish this. I occasionally like this sort of thing but it managed to not be weird enough or heavy enough.

Teleport - Beholder of the Silent Sea
7.5/10. Hoping for a full length in 2019!

Communion - Secret Rites
8/10. I agree with the in-crowd's assessment of these guys.

Azusa - Interstellar Islands
2/10. NO. NO. NO. FUCKING NO.

Blood Curse - Isabelle
7/10. Well I thought this was decently catchy heavy metal. Guess I'm wrong.

Madder Mortem - Stumble On
3/10. I'm struggling to find the metal part in this. The kinda fuzzy post-sludgey-whatever guitar in the background starting at the halfway point?

Manacle - Fight for Your Life
8.5/10. Very good stuff, never really lingers. I bought this directly from their bandcamp. Canada's po system is so fucked they had it sent from Niagra Falls, US side.

 

[Krow]

Here goes nothing

Uncle Acid And the Dead Beats - Blood Runner 7/10
Compared to their prior releases, this is really upbeat and driving! I dig it better than Ghost's attempt at this sound.

Not that they're similar at all, but nothing Ghost has released holds a candle to Uncle Acid. The comparison you've made there is a little perplexing to me.

 

[Master_Yoda77]

Yeah I saw that comment and didn't really understand it.

 

[no country for old wainds]

the only way they’re similar to ghost is that loads of normies like them, i assume the needle drop praised them or something

 

[Phylactery]

Gotta continue the noble UM tradition of waiting several weeks before rating the new mixtape.

Get your ratings in! Intrigued to see your thoughts on some of these songs.

 

[challenge_everything]

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Blood Runner: 6/10
As others have said, nice guitar tone, but needs a better vocalist to really drive this.

Miscreance - Alchemy: 5/10
Competent but sterile.

Yob - Ablaze: 9/10
This was already, by far, my favourite song off Our Raw Heart. It goes downhill from this opening track unfortunately.

Sacral Rage - Necropia: 5/10
Perhaps not a fair rating but these vocals are an automatic dealbreaker for me.

Mooncitadel - Dance of a Dark Pagan Spell (The Dreaming Equinox): 7/10
Nice. I don't mind rawness but this could definitely benefit from fuller production.

Chemicaust - Vanished: 6/10
That screwy riff about 3min in, followed by the solo, bumps this up a bit.

Sigh - Homo Monini Lupus: 8/10
Sigh are consistently interesting and this song has such a great sense of urgency.

Beyond Creation - Surface's Echoes: 7/10
Really original riffing, excellent drums, and mostly avoids tech wankery.

Teleport - Beholder of the Silent Sea: 8/10
A pleasant surprise. Has a bit of the melodic sense of The Karelian Isthmus.

Communion - Secret Rites: 4/10
Gonna have to disagree with the BM-heads here, I find this completely forgettable.

Azusa - Interstellar Islands: 3/10
What the fuck was that? There's about 8 genres battling it out here, and it doesn't entirely fail but I'd be happy not listening to this again.

Blood Curse - Isabelle: 6/10
Catchy. I suspect I'd get bored quickly though.

Madder Mortem - Stumble On: 4/10
I'm not completely averse to this style, but this is bland.

Manacle - Fight for Your Life: 5/10
Bruce Dickinson fronting Mercyful Fate might sound like high praise, it's a dilute version at best.

 

[no country for old wainds]

i'm off work this week so i'll hopefully get this rated.

 

[CiG]

Going to start the 2018 films thread still? After the festival I assume?

 

[no country for old wainds]

yeah i will do. i was thinking of leaving it a little later after everyone decided they didn't want to do the music one yet.