It does seem to mostly be about what it's acceptable for a metalhead to like rather than what's technically metal. Which is fine really if that's what they want to do,
Mmmmm Fair enough. Although Grindcore is "more metal" than Metalcore anyway
except primitives albums like Scum by Napalm Death and the likes.
And I agree with the thing I just quoted. It's ok if that's your purpose but it seems like the staff from MA is so... Like if they don't really have a solid opinion about a subject and everyone has his/her own opinion and that's why there are bands that shouldn't be there and viceversa. O well... I just use MA for basic info about a band and for good links for their myspace and other things. The only metal site I really like is Metal Storm.
Having place thanks to another page here are more recommendations [PS: Some stuff might not be metal but I recommend it anyway because it's more likely to be good for a metal-listener than to other people]:
- The Angelic Process Nah... The band isn't really religious, but a huge heavy sound of drone with very special vocals. You see, buried in the fuzzy music and production there are some of the most cristal clear and beautiful female vocals I've ever heard. A review I was reading puts it like this: someone trapped and being dragged down the slopes of the vulcano, screaming for help. Yet they remain very clean and pure, even when she is screaming on the top of her lungs. And because of the infinite purity, it sounds so unnatural, so unreal. This band was: M. Dragynfly and K. Angylus, husband and wife. Unfortunately the band is no more since Angylus died a for about a year ago. It really sucks when bands disband for something tragic like the death of someone, specially if they were brilliant in what they did.
- Dark Lunacy Talking about Fleshgod Apocalypse maked me remember another band [less brutal though] that plays some kind of [melodic] Death metal with some really nice classical touch on it. The music is really emotional. The lyrics are usually about WWII but not on a politic level. Their focus is on suffering, fear, hope and desperation like if the lyrics were written by a civil looking at the city being completely destroyed and people around dying of cold and starve.
- Darkspace Black metal from the space jajaja. But really, this is serious business. This is how atmospheric Black metal should be, like a huge black hole that would take you to another place, like a supernova exploting right in front of you. The keyboards at times sounds really "alien" and gives a psychodelic feel along with the repetitive riffs, but don't worry because this is not monotone, it's a good trip. The two guitarrist and bassist are vocalists here, giving some kind of a "vortex of dying screams". This band does what most Depressive/Ambient/Suicidal Black Metal fails to do. It is a preview of death, as Atheism perceives it. No thoughts, no feelings, no emotions, nothing.
- Darkthrone... I don't know if it's neccesary to put a video for this band because everybody who knows their Black metal knows about this guys. Like the lyrics says: "So pure, so cold" But the ones that just know their black metal stuff should totally check out the
Black/rock 'n' roll stuff they are doing know, it's really fun to listen to.
- Deathspell Omega Probably my favorite Black Metal band atm. One of the best among the so called orthodox Black metal scene. For the ones who don't know what the scene is about, it's satanism on a metaphysical level and other theological topics. lyrically and ideologically more thorough than most Satanic black metal bands. Some might find it pretentious, I think it's brilliant... Just check out the
lyrics from the song I put here. The band must have witnessed pure madness. The roaring "war-speech" in the track is so full of a thunderous power it is beyond all imagination. And the drums are... frightening because the muscular intensity sounds almost inhuman.
I hope some people will like this stuff.