Drudkh – Sunwheel
Very flowery but I have to admit this actually has riffs, in contrast to most Drudkh material. I swear the very start is giving me Soundgarden vibes or something, I can’t quite place it but I know I’ve heard something similar in an alt rock context. Ultimately I still got bored halfway through. 4/10.
Patriarch - Dance, Children of the Moon
A bit of that Arch-era Fates Warning mysticism with crunchier and more straight-forward Euro speed/power writing. Doesn't quite reach its potential. 7/10.
Sacred Blade - Of the Sun + Moon
About as obvious a choice you can get for an underground band, but for good reason. I don’t consider this one of their very best songs as I know many do, but everything Sacred Blade/Othyrworld is amazing. 9/10.
Amorphis - Moon and Sun Part II: North's Son
I tried so hard in my youth to believe the “A-at least early Amorphis isn’t shit” meme, but no more. This is more flowery than any Rhapsody of Fire I’ve heard, and doesn’t have a quarter the riff quality. 3/10.
Lucis Absentia - Beneath the Falling Sun
Decent melothrash. First minute sounded very Exodus and I wish it stayed that way, but the rest wasn’t bad, had more ideas than usual for the style. Vocals were the weak link but tolerable. 5/10.
Bruce Dickinson - Power of the Sun
Glad to see him here, Solar Confinement was one of my top contenders to submit, but Tyranny of Souls never did too much for me. LastFM tells me it’s been eight years since I’ve last heard this though. Actually this is really fucking good, damn I need to listen to this album again. Quality melodic riffing all the way through, that brief harmony bit was gorgeous, and it’s over in under four minutes. Bruce is the fucking man. 8/10.
Incantation - The Ibex Moon
I’m still too green in my Incantation listening to have favorite songs, but those really twisted tremolo bits at 1:50/2:30 are definitely among the stand out moments I have so far. Great dynamics through the whole thing though. 8/10.
Sacramentum – Moonfog
Boring. 3/10.
Anciients - Raise the Sun
Didn’t do a whole lot for me until the second half where things ramped up a bit. 5/10.
Rat Attack - Man on the Moon
Never even heard of these guys, this is some vintage grimy hair metal stuff. Really chilly melodies, that part around 1:40 was great. Vocalist isn’t the best, that forced vibrato is kind of lame, but whatever, I have to check this demo out. 8/10.
Celtic Frost - Sorrows of the Moon
Pretty much as good as the experimental material on this album gets, super captivating atmosphere. 8/10.
Spirit Caravan - Dead Love / Jug Fulla Sun
Surprisingly good. 6/10.
Atrocity - Sky Turned Red
One of my favorite Atrocity songs, just awesome proggy topsy-turvy death metal from start to finish. 10/10.
Hades - The Dawn of the Dying Sun
Main riff was cool but still repeated too many times so still boring. 4/10.
Overall, cool playlist, nice mix of stuff and nothing too offensive.