Traditional Metal

[rms]

never made it that far down but man this sounds right for this band. oh christ this band is lead by former UM hero Jean Pierre? christ either Borrowed Time is 10x this album

 

[Omni]

Jean-Pierre is only the singer and he joined only just before the recording of the album. They had another singer before that. One of the guitarists is the primary songwriter and band leader.

Borrowed Time is pretty great, but you just admitted that you haven't even listened to this entire album so I'm still not sure why you're still giving opinions that suggest that you have.

 

[rms]

i've said i havent made it through the album because it's so, so bad. been my point all along

 

[Omni]

Cool. It's still obviously a trad metal album despite your hilarious hate boner. A lot of what you praise is much less metallic than an album like that which doesn't really draw from any other styles of music.

 

[rms]

gatekeeper should learn to do one thing first. maybe they can have a rock opera album next to help them focus their abilities

 

[Omni]

I wonder what it's like to live an existence where you have to pretend that things aren't metal or that Manilla Road is the most influential underground band in order to feud with other posters on heavy metal forums.

 

[rms]

I wonder what it's like to live in an existence where you have to pretend things are metal or that Manilla Road isn't the most influential underground band in order to feud with other posters on heavy metal forums

 

[Omni]

Feel free to actually explain how Gatekeeper isn't a metal band if you actually believe such a ludicrous thing.

We both already know that Manilla Road is not the most influential underground metal band ever, or at least I hope that you actually know that. I'm nearly positive that you do, but I suppose it's possible that you are actually stupid enough to think that Manilla Road compares to, or even eclipses, bands that actually influenced the entire genre in the 1980s.

 

[rms]

no interest, last reply was a laugh but you are you and that is still obvious

 

[Krow]

I bought the Gatekeeper album the same time I got Midnight Force from Hoove Childe. I definitely preferred Midnight Force.

It wasn’t bad but I think I listened to it about 3 times in the car and never have listened to the mp3s I made after that.

 

[CiG]

I bought the Gatekeeper album the same time I got Midnight Force from Hoove Childe. I definitely preferred Midnight Force.

And "Killer" is an insanely catchy opening track too.

Killer! Killer!
Nothing is safe, even you.
Killer! Killer!
Just one mistake and you're through.
Killer! Killer!
No one escapes his knife,
Now say goodbye to your life!

 

[CiG]

What did everybody think about the latest Chevalier? Did a quick search and the only result related to this new EP is @Dazed and Brutal saying he plans to check it out at some point.

 

[Dazed and Brutal]

What did everybody think about the latest Chevalier? Did a quick search and the only result related to this new EP is @Dazed and Brutal saying he plans to check it out at some point.

Hell yea! All their material is finely forged steel! I think they are leading the pack in terms of the recent wave of demo worship heavy metal bands. You'd figure that kind of thing would be trite this deep into this decade, but they prove that quality songwriting and a delicate blend of influences can still produce something worthy. I still haven't tracked down anything as cacophonous and chaotically controlled as their two demos. They manage to carry melodies like Brocas Helm and bear teeth like the best German speed/thrash records with tasteful nods to King Diamond (looking at you Portrait ).

Some other good recent demos





















Just blew my whole load here

 

[CiG]

Do you just call anything a demo or something?

 

[Dazed and Brutal]

Do you just call anything a demo or something?

lol, some of them are demos! I have them all on cassette and never thought much of it to be honest. I see little point of parsing the difference when the bands are clearly retrofitting their sound to like 80's era demos.

 

[CiG]

Witchtower is a literal studio full length lmao I just thought it was funny, I was expecting to be bombarded with actual demos. The Freeways and Stone Dagger tapes are gold btw, for me the best of the bunch. But the rest rule too.

 

[CiG]

 

[Storrsson]

Epic/traditional metal pushed to the limits.

Holy hell, my fucking album's on here before I am :\

I'm big on trad metal in general, but I prefer that more "mythical & magical" sound from the early-mid '80s. So Eternal Champion are well up there for me, as are Wytch Hazel. I like Pagan Altar's newer stuff as well - has anyone heard anything that comes close to that kind of sound?

Other than that, most of the trad metal I listen to is from the '80s/early '90s still. Loads of forgotten stuff to get through. There are a lot of really good bands coming out nowadays, but a lot of them seem to fall for me into the "good but not amazing" category, which is a shame - I don't have the time to go through each one and find out which bands really stand out, so I tend to overlook them. If anyone's got a list of releases from the past 10 years or so that trump all the others (excluding Eternal Champion), then I'll have a peruse.

Recent bands that I've come to know that do pretty well on the trad metal front: Iron Kingdom from Canada, Toledo Steel from UK, aforementioned Wytch Hazel, Amulet, and yes, Gatekeeper are good, but I echo some other people's concerns about the sound of their newer album - again, I haven't had time to go through it with the fine-tooth comb yet, but the production immediately strikes me as something of a stumbling block as far as my own taste is concerned, since it's a little "flat" or "clean" sounding. Giving it a spin now, and it's musically very good, but the drums, guitars and vox sound like they were recorded and mixed in different studios...

Anybody into Cromlech (Canada)? They just put out a track on a split. Very well thought out composition. Their debut "Ave Mortis" was one hell of an album.

 

[Master_Yoda77]

Yeah definitely agreeing with Omni on that one. Blade of Cimmeria rules, but Ninefold Muse and Oncoming Ice are clearly the best songs on the album. That 2nd track that you hate so much is a re-recording off of their first demo and yeah, it does feel a little bad compared to that opener but the rest of the album definitely rips.

I literally remember nothing from that Midnight Force record when I listened to it.

 

[CiG]

Holy shit welcome aboard @Storrsson, your music rules. Firstly perhaps give this thread a gander if you want to get clued in on some good new metal, I update it quite frequently.

Secondly I'd be happy to make a list of 20 or 30 of my favourite traditional/epic/classic metal albums from the last decade. I'll have a good think about it and then tag you.