Demiurge said:
It ranges from the works of the great composers to NYDM to true black metal to ambient. I'm partial to the more atmospheric Scandeath groups.
Astrofaes is great.
I like some brutal death, most current brutal bands are neanderthal caricatures of the old NYDM bands though. Plus, they throw in plenty of slam riffs to pander to the mosh kiddies, and induce ennui in experienced listeners I might add. I dislike vocalists who burp the alphabet and find that incessant blasting is insurmountably dull. Disgorge and Devourment are two of the worst offenders.
I understand some people can't stand incessant blasting. In much the same way, I don't like the infamous Scandinavian melodic death metal.
By the old NYDM you probably mean the likes of Suffocation or Pyrexia. I have respect for those bands but the music didn't stop developing one decade ago. I don't think think the likes of Internal Suffering, Soils of Fate, Pyaemia, Stabwound, Disavowed, and many other are inferior to their predecessors. More importantly (for me), a parallel scene evolved throughout the years in Texas and other states resulting in bands like Saprogenic, Prophecy, Brodequin, Sect of Execration, Waco Jesus, Cinerary, Digorge (Californian), and many other. The vocals you seem to dislike so much are one of the things I like about those bands; either guttural or sick and inhale-ish, they are used as an "instrument" of its own rather than singing that should bear a message. The vocalist on Brodequin sounds like a wind and it is not secret that many of the BDM vocalist use effects to distort the vocals.That is perfectly ok with me, I am not too fond of lyrics and/or death metal screams and growls.
As for the slam riffs, only certain BDM bands use them. I for one could well live without them (the reason I love Devourment is the insane drumming). I believe the bands use them to make the music less monotonous. However, there are other ways around that, the band Wormed being one example.
Oh yeah, I like some ambient too, we have that in common.