LoathsomePete

I really like Celtic Frost and Triptykon, I always just kind of viewed Hellhammer as a proto-version of things I already liked, they also didn't have any studio albums and I usually don't bother with demos or EPs unless I'm REALLY into the bands.

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Last.FM
101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

Zer0

I'd definitely recommend listening to Satanic Rites. It has something else that was lost somewhat in Celtic Frost - the rawer, dirtier, primal side of metal. It definitely has an almost hardcore-punk feel to it, whether intentional or not. If you close your eyes and forget about all the satanic imagery you could almost mistake them for an early-80's American hardcore punk band.

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The Batlord

The chorus to the title track pretty much says it all about this album and this band. According to legend, the "blood upon the stage" line came from an incident during an early Exodus show where there was literally a pool of blood on the stage, and their "singer", Paul Baloff, put his hand in the puddle and wiped it across his face. You will never be as metal as this album or this band.

Even after over a decade of playing this album over and over and over again, when the sound of the dropping bomb explodes into the opening riff of the first song, it still gives me a jolt of adrenaline. Everything that is thrash is encapsulated in this album: the riffs, the trashy lyrics, the anti-melodic screaming, and most importantly, the energy.

Exodus may not have been first off the starting block with releasing an album, but they were one of the original San Francisco Bay Area thrash bands, and every one of their peers, from Metallica to Slayer, were influenced by these maniacs. Who the **** knows what would have become of the scene without them. And they still kick ass today. Gary Holt 4 lyfe!

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The Batlord

Proof that brutal, technical death metal can be epic and left-field without sacrificing intensity. This band is as vicious and dense as Suffocation or Cryptopsy, but the Egyptian atmospheric touches and extended musical passages make them truly unique. Relatively straight-ahead death metal songs stand next to extended epics such as "Unas Slayer of the Gods" and the eighteen-minute, four-part title track--Nile's crowning achievement and masterpiece, which is worth the price of admission alone--to create something that satisfies purists, while flirting with the avant garde.

Also gotta love that tribute to Candlemass' "Gothic Stone/The Well of Souls" throughout "Unas Slayer of the Gods". Even more that their longer songs often employ some delicious death/doom passages.

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Primeval Scum

The Mantle combines elements of black metal, acoustic folk, and atmospheric rock unlike anything else I have ever heard. They build atmosphere the old-fashioned way: by utilizing each instrument to reflect their emotions. No immersive synths or try-hard 'concepts' needed. Throughout The Mantle, the band creates something so unique yet so tangible that you have no choice but to sink and drown in it. You will feel like you are alone, wandering through desolate, snowy woodlands like the elk on the front cover…while other times, you will be rendered speechless by waves and waves of stunningly gorgeous soundscapes. There is a mysterious nature that accompanies Agalloch’s sophomore album, and it is albums like this that make music worth exploring, sharing and reviewing. A benchmark of twentieth century ART.

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Last.fm
RateYourMusic

Don't grieve for me, I'm not there. I am the gentle autumn rain. Hold up my lamp to light your way. Farewell to thee...

The Batlord

Note: I'm running these two albums together cause they're basically the same thing, and the purpose of this entry is more about the artist than the specific albums.

Alright, so these are not actually metal albums ... at all ... by any stretch of the imagination. But, if you're a lover of Nile, and dig those Egyptian music interludes, then these may very well be of interest to you. Karl Sanders is the mastermind behind that band, and these are pretty much albums made up of those ambient interludes. Depending on your point of view, this can either be pointless self-indulgence, or cool as all ****. I am of the second opinion. Obviously.

What I as an ignorant infidel must assume is Egyptian folk music played on guitar, evocatively plays over booming, hypnotic tribal drums. When the guitar is center stage, it feels like a majestic journey through the desert of a lost time. When the drums reach a fever pitch however, it's like bearing witness to some massive, terrifying religious ritual. These albums feel unsettling and otherworldly, speaking to my soul in a primal way that is just fantastic. Both albums are wicked cool, but I'd say the second's greater use of those tribal drums gives it the edge.

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Trollheart

I'm going to revive the "Recommended by ..." thread and this is going in.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

The Batlord

Does Trollheart actually like something I suggested? What have I done?

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Trollheart

I like the sound of it. Whether or not I'll actually like the album(s), time will tell

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

The Batlord

FYI, if you only listened to the first song, that's pretty much the only song on either of the albums with real singing. Otherwise they're almost entirely instrumental, with passages of chanting at times.

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