Interesting metal bands

Eemu Ranta wrote: Thanks a lot for the recommendations & links, Manunkind! Behold... the Arctopus and Beneath the Massacre were my favourites, hysterically insane! Lykathea Aflame had its superb moments, as had Immolation (which was the most Cryptopsy-like). Goratory was a bit too grindcoreish for my narrow tastes

Hey, don't mention it! Actually I was mistaken, there are some Gorguts soundclips available, but they're only 30 seconds or so. They're available either at Amazon or here  http://www.anus.com/metal/gorguts.html

"Obscura" =  and though the other albums are more generic, they're good, too

(R.I.P. Patrick Robert, Gorguts' drummer) 

Okay, since the first batch was such a success, time for the next one:

Martyr - http://www.welcome.to/martyr 

Necrophagist - http://www.necrophagist.de/Seiten/necrophagist_main.html (maybe you know these guys)

Capharnaum - http://www.capharnaum.org/music.html

Nefas - http://come.to/nefas (if you don't like Morbid Angel, don't be put off by the MA-style website)

Someone here already mentioned Psycroptic - http://www.psycroptic.com/sitetest/

 have fun!

nacho wrote: Anyone here like Into Eternity? They are my last discovery in the metal scene, and I find them amazing. They should be listed in the Archives, no doubt about that for me.

I heard the two mp3s available and while they're good, I think that Mastodon are similar and better:

http://www.mastodonrocks.com/downloads.html

http://shop.relapse.com/content/downloads.aspx

Reverie wrote: Hooray! Fellow metal fans While we're on the topic of 'brutal' and/or technical death metal, i'd like to suggest the following: Origin and Psycroptic. Psycroptic more technical, original more brutal (at least as brutal as Nile). I'd also like to recommend Alarum. They're an Aussie band who have a jazz-like texture to their music. Quite the musicians really. People often compare them to Cynic, but they really don't sound like Cynic to me at all. Sure they draw inspiration from Cynic and Atheist, epsecially lyrically (which death metal needs more of), but musically they still have their own sound. While not as heavy as these previous bands, Spastic Ink are still a great band. Quite (very) technical and fusion influenced. This is the brainchild of Watchtower guitarist Ron Jarzombek (Watchtower are another great tech metal band to check out). Here's some other cool metal bands to check out: Spiral Architect, Ulver (the early stuff is black metal, the later stuff is electronica), Absu (phenomenal drumming on the Tara album), Ephel Duath, Strapping Young Lad, Zyklon, and Meshuggah as mentioned on another thread. I forgot to mention Maudlin of the Well and Kayo Dot - the latter being a continuation of the first. Maudlin of the well are probably the most eclectic band i've ever heard. Sometimes extremely heavy, sometimes soft, usually dark and i can only really listen to them when i'm in a certain mood. They use all kinds of instruments, from the stndard metal setup to woodwind and the like. Not easy to get a hold of though. I haven't really heard that much Kayo Dot, but from what i have heard, they sound slightly (!) less hectic than Maudlin, and probably darker still. To me, Maudlin of the Well is the definition of progressive metal, or perhaps progressive music in general.

Abso-bloodly-lutely brilliant  - I don't care for Zyklon or Mastodon at all (they seemed a bit generic), or SYL or Meshuggah very much, and I really need to get hold of some more Ulver but the rest of those bands are some of my favourites in the realms of metal!

I've been in love with metal lately.  I'm generally not too crazy about cheezy "symphonic" bands like Symphony X, Rhapsody, etc (although Stratovarius is decent), and I have yet to understand the appeal of Dream Theater, but there have been some discoveries I've made lately which have really inspired me to look further into this style.  Here are most of them, with some songs I would recommend alongside them.

Tool.  I'm pretty sure we all know them, but there are few metal bands out there today with such a distinctive sound.  Aenima and Lateralus are both fantastic.  Songs to sample: Lateralus, The Patient, Third Eye.

Opeth.  Again, most of us probably know them, but Blackwater Park is what progressive metal is all about for me.  My Arms Your Hearse, Still Life and Morningrise are also greatly enjoyed though.  Songs to sample: The Drapery Falls, Black Rose Immortal, Hope Leaves.

Meshuggah.  I've been raving about them for quite awhile now, and I have not ceased to be amazed.  Unlike a band like Dream Theater who insist on flamboyantly showing off how great they are every song, Meshuggah's members (all of whom are incredible musicians) work as one brutal, flawless machine, producing some of the most complex metal ever made.  Songs to sample: I, Closed Eye Visuals, Future Breed Machine

Cynic.  Paul Masvidal and Jason Gobel may very well be the two most underrated guitarists ever to live.  The band is a stunning combination of death metal and jazz, playing unfathomably complex guitar riffs and lead parts.  Sean Malone and Sean Reinert are an incredible rhythm section as well.  Songs to sample: I'm But a Wave To..., Celestial Voyage, Textures

Death.  Don't let the name scare you off, they made some great technical metal after starting off with two albums along the exact lines of what the name would indicate.  Chuck Schuldiner was an amazing guitar player, and he worked with some outstanding musicians over the course of this band's lifespan.  If death metal vocals aren't your thing, he did one album with the band name Control Denied which features clear vocals (sadly, Control Denied only made one album before his death).  Songs to sample: Flesh and the Power It Holds, Scavenger of Human Sorrow, Zero Tolerance.

In Flames.  Okay, so I've only heard The Jester Race (and one of their EPs) so far, but it has confirmed to me that they were a great band (though supposedly their newer stuff has gone in the direction of nu-metal, sigh).  Kind of like Opeth with shorter songs and a lot more "soaring" lead guitar parts.  Songs to sample: Moonshield, The Jester Race, Acoustic Meddley.

Dimmu Borgir.  Don't dismiss them as just another black metal band, they've actually made some great (almost progressive at times) metal on albums like Purtanical Euphoric Misanthropia and Enthrone Darkness Triumphant.  The lyrics may be standard black metal anti-christian fare, but the music (which as a strong symphonic element) is absolutely stunning.  Songs to sample: Mourning Palace, Hybrid Stigmata, Kings of the Carnival Creation.

Strapping Young Lad.  Pure insanity, certainly not for the faint of heart.  Their frontman Devin Townsend's solo work would probably be more to the liking of most progheads, but those who want to hear probably the angriest music ever composed will love SYL.  Plus their drummer Gene Holgan is an absolute monster.  Songs to sample: All Hail the New Flesh, Detox, Love.

Devin Townsend.  Hey, I mentioned him above.  Surprisingly atmospheric yet clearly agressive metal, Townsend's work is really all over the place.  However, it remains undeniably progressive, and quite simply great music.  Songs to sample: Earth Day, Seventh Wave, Life.

Fantomas.  REALLY weird, but also completely psychotic and certainly appealing to those who don't mind a little bit of RIO or noise in their heavy metal.  Songs to sample: Their albums tend to be large scale conceptual works, so just get those.

I'll probably come back with more later on.  Or maybe not.

death metal makes me sick.

I can't get to grips with the motivation behind the music - it completely eludes me.

I don't have that either - Weiland's the only one I managed to get back when I had money and didn't order from other countries - but if I remember correctly it's most like Weiland but even less metally and with no drums.

Re death metal there is a lot of complete rubbish, probably more so than anything except grindcore or black metal, but there's some stuff that's well done. Definitely not for everyone but the best way to start is first Cynic (not really death metal at all, and very jazzy), then Atheist (more towards death metal, but lots of instrumental bits and still a jazz influence) then Death's last four albums (not very jazzy, but very techincal and without very brutal vocals)...