HamburgerBoy
Active Member
- Sep 16, 2007
- 15,042
- 4,850
- 113
Slayer – Payback
It’s not peak Slayer and the lyrics are juvenile, but it’s far from bad. 5/10.
Razor - Shotgun Justice
And this isn’t any better. The riffcount is higher but if anything it sounds a lot less malicious. Both are pretty much by-the-books thrash. 5/10.
Guided Cradle - Revenge of the Orcs
Started promising exactly what the title implied, but pretty average stuff after that, way too simple/uninteresting in the riff/vocal play. The Creeping Death bit to the end was nice though, actually the whole warm sound and way the melody came in was probably the most legit homages to Ride the Lightning I’ve heard, so slight bonus points there. 6/10.
Kronos - Monumental Carnage
Liked the guitar solo, the rest didn’t engage me. Pretty repetitious. 4/10.
Morlok VonGrimorog – Melekron
Quite possibly the greatest metal song of this decade. In delivery the opposite of pretentious yet it blows every single other newer band with early Mercyful Fate influence away in terms of recapturing their progressive and unwieldy songwriting, a modern day Satan’s Fall. The less-rapey Legend of the Overfiend revenge story is hilarious taken at its own value and from the sheer audacity of writing a nearly 16 minute epic out of it. There is nothing about this that isn’t brilliant. 10/10.
Rosenfeld – Revenger
Production and performance give this an edge over the other standard thrashy songs submitted so far. I need to give them a proper chance I guess, one of those first Japanese bands people hear about cuz of the Nazi imagery but this is a lot more competent than I thought they were. 7/10.
Rigor Mortis - Shroud of Gloom
Pretty much the band that made me realize the existence of the in-crowd. The arrangement is even simpler than Payback, the riffs are upbeat and happy, vocalist is totally corny, I’ve never understood what puts this band on a level better than any mid-tier American demo thrash band from the same time period. I mean yeah Scaccia had speed behind him and the one-guitar sound is kinda cool when they bring the bass up front during the solo, but whatever. Also, I don’t see this as thematic, “senseless murder”, unless this is based on a horror movie with very strong revenge themes that isn’t explained in this song, this is seems to be about a serial killer with a slight occult vibe. (4/2)/10 = 2/10.
Paradox - Crusaders Revenge
Solid but one of the less interesting songs from this album but solid, great solo at least. 5/10.
Glacier – Vendetta
I think this EP gets a little more praise than it deserves especially when their 1988 demo is a masterpiece, but this sound is undoubtedly great. Lovely harmonies everywhere and dark dramatic tension. 8/10.
Zemial - For a Fallen One
A good example of ‘black metal’ being such a meaningless term. Just another blackened Manowar. Although actually the solo and segue into the acoustic part were very pleasant, the overall sound is nice I’ll admit. If these bands didn’t have a tendency of repeating one riff a thousand times I’d enjoy them, but it’s just so lazy and tiring half-assing a song like this. 3/10.
Grand Magus - Silver into Steel
I gave this album a few tries ages ago and always hated it, but this is appealing to me now, a lot warmer and more passionate than I remember. Unfortunately there’s nothing about revenge here. (8/2)/10 = 4/10.
Virgin Steele - Wings of Vengeance
That chorus seriously could have come out of some 90s dance song. Whole song is pretty catchy and solid for them actually, a few more riffs than typical though the drumming is still robotic. 6/10.
Cemetary – Scars
Solid Swedeath but not that distinguished, some hints of the atmospheric sound they’re praised for but it’s for the best that this one is short. 5/10.
The Shadow Order - Strife For Revenge
This is some of the softest and most sentimental black metal I’ve heard. I’d like for that to be an insult but I actually liked this a lot, weird stuff but intriguing. 8/10.
Aeternus - Sworn Revenge
Song works a lot better out of the context of its album. The National Geographic melodies and strum-a-strum riffs are nice, almost reminds me of something in the artsier side of the 90s alt rock world though I can’t quite place it. The more black metal-y parts are uninteresting but tolerable in small doses. 6/10.
Diamond Head - Am I Evil?
Obviously a classic. 10/10.
Black Death – Retribution
Badass USPM from start to finish, excellent way to close the playlist. 8/10.
It’s not peak Slayer and the lyrics are juvenile, but it’s far from bad. 5/10.
Razor - Shotgun Justice
And this isn’t any better. The riffcount is higher but if anything it sounds a lot less malicious. Both are pretty much by-the-books thrash. 5/10.
Guided Cradle - Revenge of the Orcs
Started promising exactly what the title implied, but pretty average stuff after that, way too simple/uninteresting in the riff/vocal play. The Creeping Death bit to the end was nice though, actually the whole warm sound and way the melody came in was probably the most legit homages to Ride the Lightning I’ve heard, so slight bonus points there. 6/10.
Kronos - Monumental Carnage
Liked the guitar solo, the rest didn’t engage me. Pretty repetitious. 4/10.
Morlok VonGrimorog – Melekron
Quite possibly the greatest metal song of this decade. In delivery the opposite of pretentious yet it blows every single other newer band with early Mercyful Fate influence away in terms of recapturing their progressive and unwieldy songwriting, a modern day Satan’s Fall. The less-rapey Legend of the Overfiend revenge story is hilarious taken at its own value and from the sheer audacity of writing a nearly 16 minute epic out of it. There is nothing about this that isn’t brilliant. 10/10.
Rosenfeld – Revenger
Production and performance give this an edge over the other standard thrashy songs submitted so far. I need to give them a proper chance I guess, one of those first Japanese bands people hear about cuz of the Nazi imagery but this is a lot more competent than I thought they were. 7/10.
Rigor Mortis - Shroud of Gloom
Pretty much the band that made me realize the existence of the in-crowd. The arrangement is even simpler than Payback, the riffs are upbeat and happy, vocalist is totally corny, I’ve never understood what puts this band on a level better than any mid-tier American demo thrash band from the same time period. I mean yeah Scaccia had speed behind him and the one-guitar sound is kinda cool when they bring the bass up front during the solo, but whatever. Also, I don’t see this as thematic, “senseless murder”, unless this is based on a horror movie with very strong revenge themes that isn’t explained in this song, this is seems to be about a serial killer with a slight occult vibe. (4/2)/10 = 2/10.
Paradox - Crusaders Revenge
Solid but one of the less interesting songs from this album but solid, great solo at least. 5/10.
Glacier – Vendetta
I think this EP gets a little more praise than it deserves especially when their 1988 demo is a masterpiece, but this sound is undoubtedly great. Lovely harmonies everywhere and dark dramatic tension. 8/10.
Zemial - For a Fallen One
A good example of ‘black metal’ being such a meaningless term. Just another blackened Manowar. Although actually the solo and segue into the acoustic part were very pleasant, the overall sound is nice I’ll admit. If these bands didn’t have a tendency of repeating one riff a thousand times I’d enjoy them, but it’s just so lazy and tiring half-assing a song like this. 3/10.
Grand Magus - Silver into Steel
I gave this album a few tries ages ago and always hated it, but this is appealing to me now, a lot warmer and more passionate than I remember. Unfortunately there’s nothing about revenge here. (8/2)/10 = 4/10.
Virgin Steele - Wings of Vengeance
That chorus seriously could have come out of some 90s dance song. Whole song is pretty catchy and solid for them actually, a few more riffs than typical though the drumming is still robotic. 6/10.
Cemetary – Scars
Solid Swedeath but not that distinguished, some hints of the atmospheric sound they’re praised for but it’s for the best that this one is short. 5/10.
The Shadow Order - Strife For Revenge
This is some of the softest and most sentimental black metal I’ve heard. I’d like for that to be an insult but I actually liked this a lot, weird stuff but intriguing. 8/10.
Aeternus - Sworn Revenge
Song works a lot better out of the context of its album. The National Geographic melodies and strum-a-strum riffs are nice, almost reminds me of something in the artsier side of the 90s alt rock world though I can’t quite place it. The more black metal-y parts are uninteresting but tolerable in small doses. 6/10.
Diamond Head - Am I Evil?
Obviously a classic. 10/10.
Black Death – Retribution
Badass USPM from start to finish, excellent way to close the playlist. 8/10.
