Newsletter 28 June 2025

Week Ending:
28 June 2025

Album Of The Week

TheBigBlack

Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light

My Dying Bride - Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light (2004)

[Doom Metal]

New music from My Dying Bride is always an exciting experience for the listener, as it is never clear until the album starts if it will be a gothic and mournful album that tugs at the heartstrings with wails of pure sorrow, or a dark and heavy beast that lumbers and weighs upon your soul. Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light heads into the later, dripping with atmosphere and death metal tinged dirges. 'The Wreckage Of My Flesh' opens the album, and at nearly 9 minutes takes the listen through a number of moods and movements, from the crushing weight of the opening guitar work, to the church organ played through the lighter passages. It is paint by numbers My Dying Bride, without a doubt, but every moment is chained to that spot of pure despair that only this band can do so well. The heaviness continues on 'My Scarlet Sorrow', and some of the weightiest riffs of the album unfold throughout. It has moments of beauty, but like always with this band the tension of knowing they are fleeting is what makes the listen so intense. 'Catherine Blake' starts out as dirge, but by mid-way builds to an intensity that swallows the listener whole, with massive riffing carrying the growled vocals of Aaron Stainthorpe to places deep and dark. Make no mistake, this is a heavy album, possibly their heaviest to this point, and it takes no prisoners when songs like this one wind up. The musicianship is faultless, and this is the sound of a band that is still exploring what can be done within the guardrails they helped to set. 'The Prize Of Beauty' has a drumline that pummels in places, and 'The Blue Lotus' is full of down-tuned chugging that drives the song to even darker despair. The finale, 'A Doomed Lover' is the epitome of the style - a dirge of lost love with whispers and cries, intermingled before a musical background that builds to a wall of sound crescendo. My Dying Bride are not a band that will reinvent itself into anything new, but this isn't what the listener wants from the band. They excel in the style they perform, and they know this, so album upon album they build a funeral pyre to the sad and lonely, with just enough variation to make the album stand out from the one before. With Song Of Darkness, Words Of Light they have created a work that will stand the test of time as one of their best albums.

mindkiller8

Undertow

Tool - Undertow (1993)

[Alternative Rock]

I think this album doesn't get the accolades it deserves. A young, obnoxious band from L.A. California simply putting their ego out there, releasing a couple of demos and E.P.s for those that would listen. At a point in time (early 90's) when the musical environment in the rock / metal space was undertaking a re-definition to the extreme. So much so that the music Tool were proposing just didn't fit anywhere. We talk about defining first full-length releases by bands that might define a genre. OK, you immediately look to the likes of Pearl Jam who did what they did. No explanation needed. I'd argue that Tool, through Undertow, as a first full-length release, put together a sound that was unique for the time. A mash of fast paced drumming by the now legendary Danny Carey, underpinned by a huge bass line that made your ears drums tingle. The guitar lines taking main stage as needed and then there comes the howling, enthusiastic, sometime depressing magic of one Maynard James Keenan on vocals. A preacher in his music just drives you into the overall sound Tool has to offer. If we look to the album song list, do your best to show me another record that can compete with the first 3 tracks on this record as the best commencement to an album. 'Intolerance' immediately introduces that underlying drum/bass sound that they become famous for on many albums to come. 'Prison Sex', although a bit in your face with the song topic, it switches to showing how Maynard applies his singing to the song lyrics. Brilliantly delivered this has us understanding in 2 tracks simply the range of the band, with so much more to come. Which brings us to 'Sober'. An amazing bass intro with a tempered intro to the song overall. And you soon find the reason for it. This is Maynard's song with some very strong messages to share as he deals with a friend that has a creative musical genius about him only when he is high. The hate with which this is made very clear in the song. As masterpiece and arguably the best track from the album. From here we shift into some perhaps more light-hearted approach. However still displaying that raw edge. The bass leading the way and Maynard providing the high points. They seem very tight in their delivery and hard to fault any tracks. Also, with very little low points. The rest of the album settles nicely into a rhythm they have made the listener comfortable with. I'd admit no particularly outstanding tracks from here on in, but equally the ice has been broken into their sound, so you simply need to sit back, relax and listen to the pavement set by the band in the first few tracks and follow the journey. My final advice, if you connected with this in anyway, do not miss what they have to offer 3 years later (1996). If you didn't like this, still take a listen. They were only getting started on their world domination with this record. Enjoy.

People: New Additions

These are new people added this week.

Click on any images below to see person details.

Alex Skolnick

Thrash Metal

Alex Skolnick (born September 29, 1968) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and one of the songwriters of the thrash metal band Testament and has played with several other bands, including Alex Skolnick Trio, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage and the heavy metal supergroup Metal Allegiance. He began his musical career at the age of 15 when he joined the local Bay Area thrash metal band Legacy, which eventually became Testament, and performed on five albums with them, between The Legacy (1987) and The Ritual (1992). By the time he left Testament in 1992, Skolnick had found considerable fame among the thrash metal and guitar communities; Guitar World magazine named him one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and as one of the fastest guitarists of all time. After his first departure from Testament, Skolnick pursued various musical careers, including briefly replacing Criss Oliva in Savatage for their album Handful Of Rain (1994), and starting his jazz band The Alex Skolnick Trio in the early 2000s, which remains active as of 2025. He briefly reunited with Testament in 2001 for the re-recordings of their early songs on the album First Strike Still Deadly (2001), and then returned to the band on a permanent basis in 2005.

Eric Peterson

Thrash Metal

Eric Stanley Peterson is a thrash metal guitarist from Oakland, California, U.S.A. He is the founder and main songwriter of the thrash metal band Testament and is the only member to play with every incarnation of the group. He also leads black metal side project called Dragonlord.

Greg Christian

Thrash Metal

Gregory Christian (born April 29, 1966) is an American musician who is the former bassist for thrash metal band Testament. He left the band in 1996, but rejoined in 2004 and left again in 2014. In addition to Testament, Christian has also played in HavocHate and Trinity Fallen, and later served as the bassist for Trauma. He is known for his finger playing style and jazz-like bass parts, although he has also occasionally been seen using a guitar pick.

Louie Clemete

Thrash Metal

Louie Clemente (born January 23, 1965) is a former drummer for the Bay Area thrash metal band Testament. He is known for being a part of Testament's original lineup. Clemente joined in 1983 when they were called Legacy, and appeared on their first five studio albums. In 1992 he left the band at the same time as guitarist Alex Skolnick.

Core Discographies: New Additions

These are new releases available in the Core Discographies this week.

Remember, Core Discographies accepts Requests. Click HERE to request your favourite album to be included.

Click on any links below to see release details.

MP3

FLAC

Possessed
Reanimation

[Album; Compilation]
?? June 2011
Thrash Metal

'Reanimation' is a compilation album by Possessed. It contains a number of early demos and live tracks.

Possessed is an American thrash / death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's growled vocals, they are often called the first band in the death metal genre, and paved the way for the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene, along with Metallica, Exodus, Testament and Death Angel. The band is also notable for featuring future Primus member Larry LaLonde, who was the guitarist for Possessed from 1984 to 1987.

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Tankard
Vol(l)ume 14

[Album]
17 December 2010
Thrash Metal

'Vol(l)ume 14' is the fourteenth studio album by Tankard.

Tankard is a German thrash metal band from Frankfurt, founded in 1982. Alongside Kreator, Destruction and Sodom, Tankard is often considered one of the "Big Four" of Teutonic thrash metal. Stylistically, Tankard have consistently played thrash metal that thematically centres primarily on alcohol reverence.

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Sodom
The Final Sign Of Evil

[Album]
28 September 2007
Thrash Metal

'The Final Sign Of Evil' is the twelfth studio album by Sodom. The album includes re-recorded songs from 'In The Sign Of Evil' (1985) as well as seven songs originally written for it, but not recorded due to the label's inability to pay for studio time. As a result, it was released as an E.P. with the original versions of the tracks rather than a full-length album.

Sodom is a German thrash metal band from Gelsenkirchen, formed in 1981. Along with Kreator, Destruction and Tankard, Sodom has been referred to as one of the "Big Four" of Teutonic thrash metal. They also heavily influenced the German black metal scene. Sodom is one of the best-selling thrash metal acts of all time, having sold over two million records.

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Destruction
Thrash Anthems

[Album]
19 January 2017
Thrash Metal

'Thrash Anthems' is an album released by Destruction. It is a compilation of re-recordings of old songs and two new songs.

Destruction is a German thrash metal band formed in 1982. They have been credited as one of 'The Big Four' of the German thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator, Sodom and Tankard. In addition to helping pioneer black metal, Destruction was part of the second wave of thrash metal in the mid-to-late 1980s, along with American bands Testament, Sacred Reich, Death Angel and Dark Angel.

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Testament
Live In London

[Album]
1 November 2005
Thrash Metal

'Live In London' is a live album by Testament. It features the original Testament line up of Chuck Billy, Greg Christian, Louie Clemente, Eric Peterson, and Alex Skolnick, although John Tempesta played drums from the beginning of the show up to 'Trial By Fire' - he was then replaced by original drummer Clemente for the remainder of the show.

Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983 under the name Legacy. Labeled as one of the "big six" of the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene (along with Exodus, Death Angel, L??z Rockit, Forbidden and Vio-lence), Testament is often credited as one of the most popular and influential bands of the thrash metal scene, as well as one of the leaders of the second wave of the genre of the late 1980s. The band has sold over 1.5 million albums in the United States and over 14 million copies worldwide.

Performer(s):

Chuck Billy - Vocals [Member]

Alex Skolnick - Guitar [Member]

Eric Peterson - Guitar [Member]

Greg Christian - Bass Guitar [Member]

John Tempesta - Drums [Member]

Louie Clemete - Drums [Guest]

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Possessed
Agony In Paradise

[Album]
?? January 2004
Thrash Metal

'Agony In Paradise' is a live album from Possessed. The recording took place in 1987 in Ohio, U.S.A.

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Cathedral
Forest Of Equilibrium

[Album]
6 December 1991
Gothic Metal

'Forest Of Equilibrium' is the debut studio album by Cathedral. It is considered a classic of its genre, doom metal. It was notably inducted into Decibel magazine's Hall of Fame in February 2006 being the 12th inductee for the Decibel Hall Of Fame.

'Cathedral' were a British doom metal band from Coventry, England, U.K. The group gained attention upon release of its debut album, Forest Of Equilibrium (1991), which is considered a classic of the genre. However, the band's sound evolved quickly and began to adopt characteristics of 1970s metal, hard rock and progressive rock. After releasing ten full-length albums and touring extensively for over two decades, Cathedral broke up after the release of The Last Spire in 2013.

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Immolation
Dawn Of Possession

[Album]
19 July 1991
Death Metal

'Dawn Of Possession' is the debut album by Immolation. It was their first and only album released on Roadrunner Records.

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Samael
Worship Him

[Album]
1 April 1991
Black Metal (Symphonic)

'Worship Him' is the debut album from Samael. It was the first-ever release from Osmose Productions, an independent French metal label. It is considered a milestone in the development of second wave black metal.

Samael is a Swiss extreme metal band formed in Sion in 1987. They are known to incorporate death and black metal, industrial, electronic and symphonic music into their sound and mix it with massive beats, martial rhythms and up-tempo or blast beat. One of the key elements that distinguishes Samael from traditional metal bands is the use of a drum machine in studio and live on stage.

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Paradise Lost
Gothic

[Album]
19 March 1991
Gothic Metal

'Gothic' is the second studio album by Paradise Lost. The album is retrospectively considered style-defining and name-giving for the genre of gothic metal.

Paradise Lost are an English gothic metal band formed in Halifax, West Yorkshire, U.K. in 1988. They are considered to be among the pioneers of the death-doom genre, and regarded as the main influence for the later gothic metal movement.

Label(s):

Peaceville Records (Region: Europe)

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Cadaver
Hallucinating Anxiety

[Album]
3 December 1990
Death Metal

'Hallucinating Anxiety' is the debut album by Cadaver. The full album has never been re-released on CD.

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Scatterbrain
Here Comes Trouble

[Album]
27 March 1990
Funk Metal

'Here Comes Trouble' is the first album by Scatterbrain. It spent 16 weeks on Billboard's album charts, peaking at number 138.

'Scatterbrain' was an American band from Long Island, New York, U.S.A., that played a combination of heavy metal, thrash metal, funk, and punk, with humorous, ironic lyrics. It was founded in 1989 by Tommy Christ and Glen Cummings after their group Ludichrist broke up. They performed distinctive live shows which might combine a Mozart medley, a Motorhead cover, cross-dressing, and a chicken costume.

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Paradise Lost
Lost Paradise

[Album]
5 February 1990
Gothic Metal

'Lost Paradise' is the debut album by Paradise Lost.

Label(s):

Peaceville Records (Region: Europe)

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Light Force
Mystical Thieves

[Album]
?? March 1989
Heavy Metal

'Mystical Thieves' is the second album by Light Force. It would be their last before they morphed into Mortification in 1990.

Performer(s):

Steve Rowe - Bass Guitar [Member]

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Accu?er
Experimental Errors

[E.P.]
?? July 1988
Thrash Metal

'Experimental Errors' is the first E.P. by Accu?er.

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King Diamond
"Them"

[Album]
18 July 1988
Heavy Metal

''Them'' is the third studio album by King Diamond. It is the first of two fictional concept albums about King and his mentally ill grandmother, the second of these being Conspiracy (1989). King falls into a harrowing descent into madness via his grandmother and the voices in the House of Amon, known to the listener only as 'Them'.

King Diamond is a Danish heavy metal band formed in 1985 by vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Andy LaRocque and Michael Denner, bassist Timi Hansen and drummer Mikkey Dee. King, Denner and Hansen had recently disbanded their previous group Mercyful Fate, and decided to form a new band under the King Diamond moniker. Since the band's inception, there have been over fifteen musicians in and out of King Diamond, with the only two mainstays being Diamond and LaRocque.

Performer(s):

King Diamond - Vocals [Member]

Mikkey Dee - Drums [Member]

Label(s):

Roadrunner Records / Roadracer Records (Region: International)

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Whitecross
Hammer & Nail

[Album]
23 May 1988
Heavy Metal

'Hammer & Nail' is the second album by Whitecross. It reached No. 15 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart.

Whitecross is an American Christian metal band from Illinois, U.S.A., formed in 1985 by singer Scott Wenzel and guitarist Rex Carroll. After a break in the mid 1990s they re-formed in 2000. The band won three Dove Awards in the 1990s.

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Whitecross
Whitecross

[Album]
5 September 1987
Heavy Metal

'Whitecross' is the debut album from Whitecross. It reached No. 17 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart. In 2010, HM Magazine listed Whitecross No. 29 on its Top 100 Christian Rock Albums Of All Time. Heaven's Metal fanzine ranked it No. 4 on its Top 100 Christian metal albums of all-time list.

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Holy Moses
Finished With The Dogs

[Album]
?? May 1987
Thrash Metal

'Finished With The Dogs' is the second album by Holy Moses.

Holy Moses were a German thrash metal band active from 1980 to 1994 and from 2000 to 2023. They were well noted for being fronted by Sabina Classen, who was the only constant member of Holy Moses, and for being one of the first German thrash metal bands.

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Holy Moses
Queen Of Siam

[Album]
?? May 1986
Thrash Metal

'Queen Of Siam' is the debut album by Holy Moses.

Core Discographies: This Year's Releases Coming Soon

These are new releases coming to Core Discographies soon.

All new releases are available.

Digital Library: Tagged Releases

These are new releases completed in the Digital Library this week.

Digital Library Links: Digital Library

Click on any links below to see release details.

MP3

FLAC

Possessed
Reanimation

[Album; Compilation]
?? June 2011
Thrash Metal

'Reanimation' is a compilation album by Possessed. It contains a number of early demos and live tracks.

MP3

FLAC

Tankard
Vol(l)ume 14

[Album]
17 December 2010
Thrash Metal

'Vol(l)ume 14' is the fourteenth studio album by Tankard.

MP3

FLAC

Destruction
Thrash Anthems

[Album]
19 January 2017
Thrash Metal

'Thrash Anthems' is an album released by Destruction. It is a compilation of re-recordings of old songs and two new songs.

MP3

FLAC

Sodom
The Final Sign Of Evil

[Album]
28 September 2007
Thrash Metal

MP3

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Testament
Live In London

[Album]
1 November 2005
Thrash Metal

Performer(s):

Chuck Billy - Vocals [Member]

Alex Skolnick - Guitar [Member]

Eric Peterson - Guitar [Member]

Greg Christian - Bass Guitar [Member]

John Tempesta - Drums [Member]

Louie Clemete - Drums [Guest]

MP3

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Possessed
Agony In Paradise

[Album]
?? January 2004
Thrash Metal

'Agony In Paradise' is a live album from Possessed. The recording took place in 1987 in Ohio, U.S.A.

MP3

FLAC

King Diamond
"Them"

[Album]
18 July 1988
Heavy Metal

Performer(s):

King Diamond - Vocals [Member]

Mikkey Dee - Drums [Member]

Label(s):

Roadrunner Records / Roadracer Records (Region: International)

Digital Library: New Additions

These are new releases added in the Digital Library this week. These will be tagged at a future date.

Digital Library Links: Digital Library

Click on any links below to see release details.

.and Oceans
The Regeneration Itinerary

[Album]
23 May 2025
Black Metal (Symphonic)

'The Regeneration Itinerary' is the seventh album by .and Oceans.

Label(s):

Season Of Mist (Region: Europe)

As The Sun Falls
Pohjoisen Sydan

[E.P.]
23 May 2025
Death Metal (Melodic)

'Pohjoisen Sydan' is the fourth studio E.P. by As The Sun Falls.

Hirax
Faster Than Death

[Album]
28 February 2025
Thrash Metal

'Faster Than Death' is the sixth studio album by Hirax.

Label(s):

Armageddon Label (Region: U.S.A.)

Jimmy Barnes
Defiant

[Album]
6 June 2025
Rock

'Defiant' is the twenty-first studio album by Jimmy Barnes. It peaked at number 1 on the Australian charts.

Performer(s):

Jimmy Barnes - Vocals [Member]

Label(s):

Mushroom Records (Region: Australia)

Paul McCartney & Wings
One Hand Clapping

[Album]
14 June 2024
Classic Rock

'One Hand Clapping' is a live-in-studio album by Paul McCartney & Wings. It was released in June 2024, nearly fifty years after it was recorded in August 1974.

Label(s):

MPL Communications (Region: International)

Capitol Records (Region: International)

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) (Region: International)

Paul McCartney & Wings
One Hand Clapping, The Backyard

[E.P.]
19 July 2024
Classic Rock

'One Hand Clapping, The Backyard' is a live-in-studio E.P. that accompanies the 'One Hand Clapping' album by Paul McCartney & Wings. It was released in June 2024, nearly fifty years after it was recorded in August 1974.

Label(s):

MPL Communications (Region: International)

Capitol Records (Region: International)

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) (Region: International)

Anathema
A Vision Of A Dying Embrace

[Album]
2022
Gothic Metal

Metallica
Live At Bridge School Benefit 1997 (Vinyl Club)

[Single]
2022
Thrash Metal

Paul McCartney
The 7" Singles

[Album; Compilation]
2022
Classic Rock

Metallica
I Disappear (Leaked & Live) (Vinyl Club)

[Single]
2021
Thrash Metal

Metallica
Tribute To Chris Cornell (Vinyl Club)

[Single]
2021
Thrash Metal

Metallica
Blackened 2020 (Vinyl Club)

[Single]
2021
Thrash Metal

Metallica
Live In Brasil ('93-'17)

[Album]
2020
Thrash Metal

Performer(s):

James Hetfield - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Kirk Hammett - Guitar [Member]

Robert Trujillo - Bass Guitar [Member]

Lars Ulrich - Drums [Member]

Metallica
Live In Argentina ('93-'17)

[Album]
2020
Thrash Metal

Performer(s):

James Hetfield - Vocals / Guitar [Member]

Kirk Hammett - Guitar [Member]

Robert Trujillo - Bass Guitar [Member]

Lars Ulrich - Drums [Member]

Metallica
Live At Donington '87 (Vinyl Club)

[Single]
2020
Thrash Metal

Location(s):

Donington Park

Metallica
Motherload (Vinyl Club)

[Single]
2020
Thrash Metal

Paul McCartney
Flaming Pie [Archive Collection]

[Album; Reissue; Deluxe Edition; Remasters]
2020
Classic Rock

Queen
News Of The World [40th Anniversary]

[Album]
2017
Classic Rock

The Rolling Stones
Totally Stripped

[Album]
2016
Classic Rock

The Rolling Stones
Havana Moon

[Album]
2016
Classic Rock

Queen
A Night At The Odeon

[Album; Live]
2015
Classic Rock

Queen
A Night At The Odeon [HD Version]

[Album; Live]
2015
Classic Rock

The Rolling Stones
Live At The Tokyo Dome (Live 1990)

[Album; Live]
2015
Classic Rock

Location(s):

Tokyo Dome

The Rolling Stones
Live At Leeds (Live 1982)

[Album; Live]
2015
Classic Rock

The Rolling Stones
Brussels Affair (Live 1973)

[Album; Live]
2015
Classic Rock

Queen
Live At The Rainbow '74

[Album; Live]
2014
Classic Rock

Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones
Live At The Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981

[Album; Live]
2012
Classic Rock

Anathema
Falling Deeper

[Album]
2011
Gothic Metal

Queen
40th Anniversary Box

[Albums; Boxed Set; Reissue]
2011
Classic Rock

Anathema
We're Here Because We're Here

[Album]
2010
Gothic Metal

Queen
The Singles Collection 3

[Singles; Boxed Set; Reissue]
2010
Classic Rock

Queen
The Singles Collection 4

[Singles; Boxed Set; Reissue]
2010
Classic Rock

Queen
The Singles Collection 2

[Singles; Boxed Set; Reissue]
2009
Classic Rock

Queen
Absolute Greatest

[Album; Compilation]
2009
Classic Rock

Queen
The Singles Collection 1

[Singles; Boxed Set; Reissue]
2008
Classic Rock