BEST METAL Albums May 2024

[@muzz798]

Hey guys. My top 5 for May: 1. My Silent Wake - Lost in Memories, Lost in Grief (gothic death doom) 2. Crownshift - Crownshift (progressive melodeath) 3. Machiavellian God - Beyond the Void (blackened melodeath) 4. Rotting Christ - Pro Xristou (gothic meloblack) 5. Wormwood - The Star (meloblack)

[@forgemastermetal]

Solid picks!!

[@MetalNeverDieswithMarkA]

Kerry Kings album kicks ass!!

[@forgemastermetal]

I really have no desire to listen to it. 🙃 I find him to be a terribly overrated guitar player. - Ben

[@MetalNeverDieswithMarkA]

@@forgemastermetal still a kick ass album

[@fabacruz3842]

Thanks a lot boys, i love yours recomendations, greetings from México ❤

[@Zubatticus]

Saidan - Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychic Depravity was easily one of my favorite black metal records this year. Definitely worth a listen!

[@forgemastermetal]

Thanks!

[@doubtsower]

Big thanks for the support and kind words, very much appreciated 🖤

[@forgemastermetal]

Our pleasure! Keep up the great work.

[@kaijinbo6812]

A lot of great movies in that background!

[@forgemastermetal]

My fav wall in my man cave 🖤

[@BareArms8]

Hey guys. Absolutely love these best of. I have a very similar taste in the music you guys recommend, especially now that I've gotten so into Doom and its sub and crossover genres. Black metal too if it's got great production and not sound like they're using empty metal cans connected to their instruments and vocalist with strings. Love when some progressive elements are mixed in at times too

[@forgemastermetal]

That’s awesome man, I’m doom is such a vast soundscape and not appreciated enough IMO.

[@mindful2864]

I loved the new Vale of Pnath, Gatecreeper, and Pallbearer albums. Still need to check out the new Thou and Aquilus album as I've heard great things about them.

[@forgemastermetal]

You won't be disappointed!

[@Clintob]

Hey that’s the girl from Dreadnought in Bleakheart! I’ll definitely check it out cuz Dreadnought is fucking sick! The new Pallbearer 😌

[@cowmark67]

Sweet. I haven't actually heard (or even heard of) most of these so I have some stuff to check out. Here are my favorites of May. 1. Nostalghia - Phaneron (atmospheric post-black metal) 2. Demersal - Demersal (screamo/post-metal/blackgaze) 3. Árstíðir Lífsins - Aldrlok (pagan black metal) 4. Knocked Loose - You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To (metallic hardcore) 5. Disembodied Tyrant & Synestia - The Poetic Edda EP (progressive deathcore/classical) 6. Reveals - Attachment, Destruction and Extinction (atmospheric black metal) 7. Gatecreeper - Dark Superstition (melodic death metal) 8. Funeral Storm - Chthonic Invocations (black metal) 9. svrm - П​р​о​щ​а​н​н​я EP (atmospheric pagan black metal) 10. Vredehammer - God Slayer (blackened death metal/thrash metal/melodic death metal)

[@forgemastermetal]

Thanks for a great list!!

[@gavintshepho9606]

Gatecreeper and Rotting christ my favorite albums of may 🔥🎸🤘

[@forgemastermetal]

Strong picks!!

[@sams.4388]

Thanks for introducing me to Back Pyramid. I'm always interested in new Doom bands that are both good AND pushing the genre foreward. I'm surprised the new Knocked Loose isn't on this list; their new one is my favorite album of the last couple of years. But this is your list, not mine, lol. Thank you.

[@forgemastermetal]

May had some competition, for sure. We had to leave some good albums off the list!

[@wavesinthe5112]

Typical banger video! Thanks and nice tales shirt 🔥

[@forgemastermetal]

Appreciate it!

[@martink3082]

Love your background guys .. so many amazing movies .... ohhhh awesome updates as always too :D

[@forgemastermetal]

Thanks for tuning in, homie!!

[@XfiverX]

Tzompantli is definitely my favorite of the month

[@forgemastermetal]

Haven't seen that one around!

[@loonyman83]

Great list guys. I've been putting off the Aquilus album and I need to jump on it. My favorite of the month were Cognitive's new release and Nightrage's new album that dropped right at the end. Nightrages was just a solid melodeath album and it just grew on me. Cognitive's album was just heavy AF and I listened to it many many times in May.

[@forgemastermetal]

I missed both of those, thanks for the reminder!

[@Yorty_Wan]

check out Fractal Generator which came out on June 7!!!

[@miker5150]

Thanks for the recognition of the excellence of the new Pallbearer. I watched another, let’s say more cynical review and was just left doubting myself. i think it’s a towering achievement in a career built on achievements. Also, your monthly reviews a must watch. Imagine that, approaching music with positivity. I always add to my collection after each month. great work!

[@forgemastermetal]

This made my weekend man, thanks so much for recognizing what we’re trying to do. A little bit of positivity is sometimes what we need and people get so wrapped around the negative. 🖤

[@mark7166]

You guys are making my music library untameable 🤣😂🤣 Not that I'm complaining!

[@quigon6349]

Yeah these types of videos my wallet hates lol

[@forgemastermetal]

Lol it's what we do!!

[@NapoleonBlownapartMMA]

Glad to see Umbilical getting such a great review, its an absolute certified hood classic

[@forgemastermetal]

Its an absolutely crushing record, glad to see those dudes reeling it in and refining

[@NapoleonBlownapartMMA]

@@forgemastermetal it’s hilarious that an album so insanely heavy is also probably their most accessible 😂

[@forgemastermetal]

@@NapoleonBlownapartMMA BTW, I left a long emo comment on the first part of your lineal title series vid. Keep crushing it, bro! - Ben

[@NapoleonBlownapartMMA]

@@forgemastermetal ah crap, I can’t see it but I’ll take another look tomorrow haha. I think I said this in like January or so but We have to have a chat about music some day!! 😆

[@forgemastermetal]

@@NapoleonBlownapartMMA I sent you an email from my personal account! Let's link up!

[@mikepenny8940]

Thou is great and i cant wait to hear what you guys think of the new Ulcerate when it drops

[@forgemastermetal]

Very excited for that!!

[@BareArms8]

Thou, Black Pyramid, Vale of Knath all killer ones I've been listening to. Gatecreeper's new album slays and increases the adrenaline And of course you guys found Pallbearer and Aquilus as good as I do. Those are both perfect for that late night, headphones a must while in complete darkness. The Pallbearer Album is the Doom AOTY so far for me. I spin it before going to sleep at least two to three times a week

[@forgemastermetal]

People aren’t digging the new Pallbearer as much as I thought. Not really sure why, it’s a crushingly beautiful record.

[@andrewhart9310]

Have you guys checked out Crypta? Brazilian death metal with a tinge of black metal. Reminds me of Skeletonwitch in spots. Super good.

[@forgemastermetal]

Not into their stuff!

[@MrLando0]

Love the new Thou, shorter songs, more immediate. Although it doesn't top that Emma Ruth Rundle collab- now I want clean vocals with the harsh on Thou songs.

[@forgemastermetal]

I forgot about that ERR collab. That record was so good.

[@barsknos]

May had a lot of cool stuff. I definitely have Aquilus and Gatecreeper near the top of list too, but also Vredehammer and Daath. Album of the year favourite is still Amiensus from April, which seemed to pass you by ^^

[@forgemastermetal]

Lots of stuff pass by us we only have so much time to dedicate to this.

[@barsknos]

@@forgemastermetal That's why we're calling out the misses in the comments! ;-) Part II of Amiensus' double album comes out in August! They just released a track with Lars Nedland on vocals (of Borknagar/Solefald)

[@Oldy-Sepulchre]

Great video as always. Surprised how many you've missed off that seem AOTY contenders based on your taste. Here's some you definitely need to check out... Hell:On - Shaman Terminal Nation - Echoes Of The Devil's Den Tzompantli - Beating The Drums Of Ancestral Force Dødsferd - Wrath Vredehammer - God Slayer Whoredom Rife - Den Vrede Makt Árstíðir Lífsins - Aldrlok Saidan - Visual Kill: The Blossoming Of Psychotic Depravity Wormwood - The Star Adversarial - Solitude With The Eternal​.​.​. Idol Throne - A Clarion Call SIG:AR:TYR - Citadel Of Stars

[@forgemastermetal]

Didn’t miss most of these, we like to narrow down to a top 10. The only two here I would’ve absolutely added (if I listened at the time of recorded) would be Tzompantli and Wormwood. That wormwood record especially is prob going on my AOTY list. The David gilmour worship is amazing.

[@Oldy-Sepulchre]

@forgemastermetal Oh I would've thought SIG:AR:TYR, Árstíðir Lífsins and maybe even Whoredom Rife would've for sure been big guns for yous guys. I knew you'd love Wormwood though.

[@faustianspirit573]

My list: 1) Tzompantli - Beating The Drums Of Ancestral Force (Death-Doom with indigenous influences) 2) Saidan - Visual Kill: The Blossoming Of Psychotic Depravity (Melodic Black Metal) 3) Vale Of Pnath - Between The Worlds Of Life And Death (Symphonic Blackened Death Metal) 4) Riot V - Mean Streets (Heavy Metal) 5) Black Pyramid - The Paths Of Time Are Vast (Stoner Doom) 6) Pallbearer - Mind Burns Alive (Doom) 7) Hemotoxin - When Time Becomes Loss (Technical Death-Thrash) 8) Wheel - Charismatic Leaders (Progressive Metal) 9) Vredehammer - God Slayer (Blackened Death Metal) 10) Ufomammut - Hidden (Stoner Doom) 11) Effluence - Necrobiology (Avant-Garde Death Metal) 12) Hextar - Doomsayer (Heavy Metal) 13) Gatecreeper - Dark Superstitions (Melodic Death Metal) 14) Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats - Nell' Ora Blu (Psychedelic Progressive Rock) 15) The Last Of Lucy - Godform (Technical Deathcore) 16) Mad Hatter - Oneironautics (Power Metal with Neoclassical influences) 17) Nocturnus AD - Unicursal (Tech-Death) 18) Botanist - Paleobotany (Blackgaze) 19) Warlord - Free Spirit Soar (US Power Metal) 20) Bat - Under The Crooked Claw (Thrash)

[@forgemastermetal]

Can't stand the Nocturnus vocals 😖

[@abdulmajeedahm644]

May was such a great month for metal, all the big names delivered

[@forgemastermetal]

Your profile pic from Disc Elysium? Cannot wait for a new one of those

[@abdulmajeedahm644]

@@forgemastermetalwhat a fucked up thing to say

[@forgemastermetal]

I don’t get your response but ok bud lol

[@abdulmajeedahm644]

@@forgemastermetal Sorry i thought that was a joke, there were big legal battles (crazy shit) between the developers and the company so they've canceled the sequel

[@forgemastermetal]

Oh shit I didn’t know that, that’s a HUGE bummer. That game is like one of my favorite experiences in a long time.

[@alexperry4691]

Gatecreeper, Rotting Christ and Thou rocked my world the most this month...Oh and Ten Ton Slug was pretty good aswell!

[@forgemastermetal]

Gonna have to check out that ten ton slug record.

[@enferex]

I didn't dig all that deep the past month (May), but did enjoy Rotting Christ's Pro Xristoy. As always I appreciate the detailed reviews on some deep finds.

[@forgemastermetal]

Let us know what sticks out!

[@CraigMader]

Diggin the horror movie backdrop. Have you seen the new horror flick "Late Night With The Devil" yet? You should. Oh, shit, welcome back, Ben! Some doom that caught my ear in May: ZOLFO; MDOU MOCTAR; HEKSEGRAV; LOCUSTS& HONEY; KULK; BOSSK; EL MORTA; HUMAN CONDITION. BLACK HEART, BLACK PYRAMID and DOUBTSOWER got past me somehow. Will correct immediately.

[@CraigMader]

Loving DOUBTSOWER. Thanks for that one.

[@forgemastermetal]

I gotta scope that Bossk album I love that band. Good to see you again!! - Ben

[@Hellenicheavymetal]

Wormwood - The Star was my favorite release of the month. It makes me think of black metal Insomnium.

[@forgemastermetal]

This album is spectacular. I found it yesterday and it’s absolutely making my AOTY list honestly. The David Gilmour worship is godly.

[@Hellenicheavymetal]

So far it's AOTY for me but I have a feeling the new Alcest is going to take the spot.

[@NicolasAristizabal-rb3ju]

Id recommend the new Tzompantli record. It’s heavy, but with a nice tribal vibe to it

[@forgemastermetal]

You're the second person to recommend that!!

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Can anyone suggest anything that isn't trem picking, anguished screams, blast beats, soundscapes etc? Decades of this blackened music by numbers is driving me crazy. We are in a SERIOUS copycat hell right now esp in hardcore, prog, blackened melodic blah, doom with XYZ genre bolted onto it etc. I'm in my 50's so for the young this may sound fresh but for me it is like grunge still being mainstream.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

BTW these were good suggestions for the genres but I'm desperate for originality.

[@forgemastermetal]

Hey Forgemate, thanks for chiming in! One of the side effects of online distribution and the cost/ease of recording music these days is that yes, there is an abundance of mediocre stuff out there. Is it a challenge to find good, original music that pushes the boundaries of their respective subgenres? Yep. But they're out there! And that's what we're doing is looking for that stuff for you. Hope you stick around and find some cool albums. June is when we do our mid-year round up so check some of those videos out when you get a chance. We will do Best of Doom, Black, and Death, followed by our overall picks of the year so far.

[@GalHardcore]

good t-shirt !

[@forgemastermetal]

Hell yeah

[@GalHardcore]

@@forgemastermetal I meant Mortal Kombat. Hell has nothing to do with that.

[@forgemastermetal]

👍

[@ayiasoumi]

Yo check out Vaticinal Rites - Cascading Memories of Immortality 😤🤘

[@forgemastermetal]

Thanks bud!

[@LaniWong167]

I just discovered BleakHeart last week and I love it 👍

[@forgemastermetal]

Right?! So good. Very unique album for 2024.

[@AlienatedQc]

so... doom! 😍 My month of may: Crawl - Altar of Disgust Transcending Obscurity Records Old school Swedish death with a good dose of crust punk. 8/10 Hemotoxin - When Time Becomes Loss Pulverised Records Flawless prog death/thrash. It’s what Death would sound like today. 9.8/10 Terminal Nation - Echoes Of The Devil's Den 20 Buck Spin Perfect death mixed with hardcore. Huge + for the leftist lyrics. 8.5/10 Gatecreeper - Dark Superstition Nuclear Blast Gatecreeper goes melodic death metal and it’s glorious. 8.7/10 Svneatr - Never Return Prosthetic Records B. C. black metal that is atmospheric, melodic and progressive. Jampacked with influences from death to classic heavy metal. 9/10 Unleash The Archers - Phantoma Napalm Records Highly melodic power metal with hints of extremity towards the end. Catchy as fuck 8.5/10 Tzompantli - Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force 20 Buck Spin Amazing, phenomenal, unique death/doom filled with indigenous, pre-hispanic Mexican sounds 9/10 Sentiment Dissolve - The Orwellian Dream CDN Records Incredible canadien tech death! (considering bad canadien tech death is usually phenomenal, it tells you how good The Orwellian Dream is) Thing is, it’s waaay to short! Also, unrelated, but yes, I’m canadien, French canadien even! 8/10 Valfreya - Dawn of Reckoning Independent Starting their career in 09, they played epic melodic black and folk metal. Now, for their third album, they are more epic than ever but play more on the blackened, symphonic death metal end of the spectrum, retaining very little folk metal influences. Grandiose melodies, aggressive metal and a singer doing both angelic and demonic vocals (with a emphasis on the demonic parts) awaits you. 8.5/10 Hellbutcher - Hellbutcher Metal Blade Records Prolific Swedish musician Per "Hellbutcher" Gustavsson comes out with is new blackened thrash band paying homage to foundational black metal acts such as Venom and Bathory, while sounding new and fresh. Truly a kvlt experience. 8.5/10 Special mention Esodic - De Facto De Jure Independent The fact that this is only a 4-song ep, is a crime against humanity! In the sense that it leaves me wanting SO much more. Their blend of death/thrash and traditional middle eastern music is so unbelievably well done, it’s mind-blowingly. I cannot wait for the full album and, by that, I mean it’s going to be physically draining to wait! 10/10

[@cbn6635]

That Esodic EP is really something special... good call..

[@forgemastermetal]

Dang what a comprehensive list!!

[@AlienatedQc]

@@forgemastermetal I just like sharing my passion for metal and you guys are super cool and have an amazing community 🤘

[@niwdoog]

Ghost on Mars-Out of Time and Space Witherfall-Sounds of the Forgotten Pallbearer-Mind Burns Alive

[@forgemastermetal]

That witherfall record is wild. Way more so than their last few.

[@karlbjerke133]

comeee on man. electric wizard got some good shit

[@forgemastermetal]

Eyyyyy lol

[@MrLando0]

What was the second band- the atmospheric doom? Logo it tough to read, ha.

[@forgemastermetal]

Doubtsower. We usually drop all the bands in the description just in case folks miss em in the video. 🤘

[@xtransxcorex]

Knocked Loose is my album of the year. if not the decade so far. arf arf forever

[@forgemastermetal]

It’s been on my gym playlist a ton. Not as good as Tear in the Fabric of Life tho, tbh

[@wheelsofmercury]

Glad you guys are enjoying the new Gatecreeper. I found it… a bit dull in my honest opinion. From the month of May, I really liked the new Rotting Christ and Árstídir Lífsins albums, but the latter is a pretty HUGE Viking/pagan black metal concept album that is a big journey to sit through.

[@forgemastermetal]

It's tough for us to find the time to sit through massive, epic albums! How do you do it??

[@doubleXnickel]

May was 🔥, right there with ya for Thou - umbilical, + Knocked Loose - you won’t go before you’re supposed to Cognitive - abhorrence Botanist - palebotany Ufomammut - hidden

[@forgemastermetal]

That Knocked Loose record has been fueling my gym playlist nonstop since it dropped. It’s not as good as their EP Tear in the Fabric of Life, but man it hits HARD

[@wolverine669]

Motor Mammoth - S/T Rotting Christ - Pro Xristou Grain Of Pain - The Moon Lights The Way There were many albums better, but hey, each their own. Good picks nonetheless

[@forgemastermetal]

The title of these videos aren’t meant to actually claim this albums as “the best.” It’s just appeasing the algorithm. These videos are just for sharing rad stuff we’re all loving. Thanks for dropping your picks man!

[@wolverine669]

@@forgemastermetal got it! 😉🤘 To me that new Pallbearer is a fu***en disgrace. Just a bunch of whining. But that's my opinion only.

[@Oldy-Sepulchre]

Sorry but none of those are better than any in this vid. I enjoyed the RT album but it was a 7/10 for me. Not even close to their best work. I think Forge have missed some great ones this month but they absolutely listed a lot of the best here.

[@wolverine669]

@@Oldy-Sepulchre definitely didn't meant that those were better than what Forge mentioned, just one's they missed and there ARE better albums that came out aswell. Just can't remember the names w/ this old head of mine 🤣🤣

[@Oldy-Sepulchre]

@@wolverine669 it's all good, bro. We all have our preferences. I made a list for them in the comments of albums they missed and I was surprised they missed a lot of those. They seem like albums they'd love. Like I can't agree with you on Pallbearer. I like it's very different and not as heavy as previous albums but when it's as good as this, then I Don't always need it to be heavy. But I get why Pallbearer fans won't welcome the softer side.

[@Hermermetal]

The Troops of Doom - A Mass to the Grotesque Kerry King - From Hell I Rise Hellbutcher - Hellbutcher Lucifuge - Hexensabbat Bloodorn - Let the Fury Rise

[@forgemastermetal]

Nice!

[@aflyingmachine]

Thou and nothing but thou

[@forgemastermetal]

Thou must enjoying having thine umbilical removed so often.

[@MetalTrenches]

Gatecreeper is going to go down as the most overrated album of the year for me, but props as always to people who love it.

[@forgemastermetal]

Dismember is one of my favorite bands ever so, yeah imma simp for it lol

[@Clintob]

I thought the new Gatecreeper is fucking incredible and their best hands down imo. I don’t understand any hate thrown its way, I find it ridiculous

[@Oldy-Sepulchre]

I honestly still don't understand how you of all people aren't a big fan of this thing haha. And I really don't see it as overrated. It's received quite a mixed reaction

[@nastro22]

@@Clintob Idk i prefer more punk/hardcore side of gatecreeper

[@MrRoundthetwist]

Incredible new album from Gatecreeper, my top pick for the year so far 🤘🏼

[@PopcornSkorpion]

Love the new gatecreeper. Don't love the new pallbearer. Also love the new Rotting Christ album

[@forgemastermetal]

Nice!! What doesn't vibe with you regarding the new Pallbearer??

[@PopcornSkorpion]

@@forgemastermetal Its a bit thin, doesn't pack the same doomy punch as the early Pallbearer. Listened to the new one then went and relistened to heartless and it's just lost a lot of it's weight a become very 'post' imo

[@nkazarian]

Disliking Electric Wizard? Blasphemy!

[@forgemastermetal]

I am here to rustle some jimmies 😄

[@jesseleavy5841]

Right? Honestly I find Sleep to be dull at times.

[@Goryptor]

Hey, you switched sides, that makes me feel uncomfortable

[@forgemastermetal]

Gotta keep ya on your toes

[@justinwearn620]

I like the movie wall backdrop