Bear

A Chinese Ghost Story III - The third and last film in the chinese ghost story series. This film starts off with the showdown from the first film, before it jumps 100 years forward in time with new characters and a new story. Well, it isn't so new. While a distant sequel, this is basically a retelling of the first film. So it lacks the punch, the freshness and the power of the two first films, as it's just more of the same. It's just the romantic horror comedy wuxia that you'd expect after watching the first two. But don't get me wrong, it doesn't have the punch of the first film, but it's still brilliant ad it's a truly enjoyable film, but it's probably the weakest film in the trilogy. Slightly weaker than part 2. And as in the second film, there's some godeawful CGI here. Some truly dated special effects which lacks everything you'd want in special effects. Where outdated practical special effects usually has lots of charm, outdated CGI has nothing. It's just disgusting. But there's also plenty of practical special effects that's just amazing. The CGI is a small part of the film.

I'm almost out of good Japanese metal bands to talk bout now, so I'm close to finished. Finally. Heh. And some of the bands mentioned in this post I also mentioned in the japanese punk thread. The work well in both. Effigy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWwPjTpUN9Y Amazing crusty thrash metal in the vein of old Sacrilege and Amebix. The band was active fom 89 to 07 or something, but only got to release two EPs and a single (which contains the same songs as one of the EPs), so they weren't exactly a productive band. But the band rules supreme, and both Evil Fragments and Fom Hell are must-haves for people into crust and/or thrash metal. S.O.B. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXEi4MLBBLg These guys started out as a hardcore band, but soon evolved into grindcore band who had a massive influence on the grindcore scene throughout the world, and grindcore legends Napalm Death, Brutal Truth and Carcass have all told lots about the influence S.O.B. had on them, Lee Dorian, vocalist on Napalm Death's two first albums, have always been open to how the band borrowed a shitload of S.O.B. riffs for their 1988 masterpiece From Enslavement to Obliteration. Lee Dorian and Shane Embury even went on to play on 1989's Thrash Night EP. Gate of Doom's their most metallic sounding album, being as much death metal as it is grindcore. It's deathier, less intense and consists of longer songs. Their debut album contains 18 songs clocking in at less than 20 minutes, their second album contains 10 songs clocking in at 20 minutes and their third album, Gate of Doom, contains 10 songs clocking in at almost 26 minutes. So yeah, longer songs. Deathpeed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfaj0zOfSJc Death metal/grindcore with some members from Unholy Grave and Gibbed. Short discography consisting of two demos (one which is an instrumental rehearsal), but the 1988 demo Possessed by Speed is a masterpiece. Brutal, intense and really fucking cool. The Day of Doom comp is totally worth getting if you're into Napalm Death, Terrorizer and Impetigo. Gibbed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fibu_iGimE Dark, brutal grindcore with members from Unholy Grave, Deathpeed, Voidd, Grudge and other good bands. Brilliant stuff. Unholy Grave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUBSHEHf4Ew Classic grindcore in the vein of Agathocles and S.O.B. Got 14 full-lenghts in their name, a shitload of EPs and a ridiculous amount of splits. They've gone in a noiser direction in later years, though, but still damn good. Grudge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdpOgtqpNUU Death/doom in the vein of Coffins and Anatomia with some members of Gibbed. Very cool band.

Millarca https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9EAWLP77M0 Great epic doom metal in the vein of early Candlemass and Solstice. The band only released three demo tapes and a split together with Church of Misery, Eternal Elysium and Berenice between 94 and 98, and it's a shame because the demos are incredible. Blind Witch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyaecfN0FcM Blind Witch is the band Temis Osmond created after he left Sabbat, and with him he got Elizaveat who played in Sabbat from 84-91 and a couple of other guys. Traditional doom metal. Very charming and good. G.A.T.E.S. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lS9AlGqilI Metal punk with members and ex-members from bands such as Sabbat, Metalucifer, Church of Misery and Magnesium. Think G.I.S.M. meets Motorhead or something like that. The band is cool, but they haven't released too much. Formed in 1999, but they have yet to release a full-lenght. 5 splits, two singles, a demo and a compilation is what they've got so far. But they cool, bro's. Metalucifer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNXz6ZQOR7g Gezol of Sabbat formed Metalucifer as a side-project back in 1996, wanting to play more traditional heavy/speed metal in the vein of Iron Maiden, Saxon, Angel Witch and so on. The whole band evolves around heavy metal cliche's, and with album titles such as Heavy Metal Drill, Heavy Metal Chainsaw and Heavy Metal Bulldozer and song titles such as Heavy Metal is My Way and Heavy Metal Samurai you get what this is all about. Actually, all the 10 songs on Heavy Metal Bulldozer starts with the words "heavy metal". This is that fucking silly. But the music is superb. All three album rules supreme, except for the German version of Heavy Metal Bulldozer with a German line-u. Good, but not as good as the one with the Japanese line-up. Very cool band! Took their name from a Sabbat song as well. The band's got an american tribute band or whatever formed by Chris Black of High Spirits and Pharaoh called Metalusafer as well. Heh.

Episode 17, My Brother's Keeper - Dark, humourous and light-hearted episode with lots of fun to offer. A bit preditctable, but very much fun. Episode 18, The Secret - A fairly predictable story, but one of the best of the series so far nonetheless. It's got a classic feeling to it, a bit Hammer Horroresque to be quite honest. And obviously a great ending to a great season. Tales From the Crypt's been a blast so far. A bit up and down, but the majority's been ups and you never really know what to expect from the episodes. Brilliant!

Finished Daredevil and I must say I really liked it. Dark and cool with brilliant action scenes. Can't wait for Daredevil season 2, A.K.A. Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and most of all Defenders. This can be cool. Netflix rules. Orphan Black started again. Watched S03E01 yesterday, and it was a decent start. I've been a bit sceptical to how this show has evolved, so I am interested in seeing if they have a plan for this season. Also finished Tales From the Crypt, season 2. It has its ups and downs, but 95% of the episodes are ups. It's really cool!

How is that going far? Death/doom similar to Coffins, Winter, Cianide, Delirium and so on have a lot in common with Celtic Frost, and all these show plenty of Celtic Frost influence in their music. I don't see how it's possible not to mention Celtic Frost a couple of times when talking about bands similar to these.

A wise choice, Jiggy. Japan has more goodies to offer: Deathchurch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ-ZOSmgYqs Straight-forward grinding black metal. Think Bathory's Under the Sign of the Black Mark meets Darkthrone's Under a Funeral Moon meets Napalm Death's From Enslavement to Obliteration. Raw and brutal. Funeral Moth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW0O2x3e_1w Dark, tortured funeral doom in the vein of Worship and Evoken. Good stuff Kanashimi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So28qBLJVh4 Depressive black metal with hints of doom metal. Enjoyable band Samayoi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Z9btblsZQ Another despressive black metal act with O. Misanthropy of Kanashimi. Zombie Ritual https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUm8_5PhdU4 Death/thrash in the vein of Ghoul. Very cool band, and I like that all their song title has the word "zombie" in it. Silly as fuck. Gorugoth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeESVB0uaNc Raw, lo-fi black metal with great atmosphere and lots of brutality. Hakuja/Funeral Elegy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sa2IlFBCww Good, though fairly standard black metal. Always thought this band has a strong finnish vibe to it. Think early Sargeist and mid-era Horna. Hurusoma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFiBgz7JZuQ Thrashy black metal by Woods of Gnome. This isn't exactly Gnome quality, but it's catchy and it's good.

What do people think of the first picture of Jared Leto's The Joker from Suicide Squad? I think he looks godawful. It looks like some poor cosplay shit. A big fucking joke.

It would be cool if people didn't embed too many videos here, as not everyonehas decent computers. Some might struggle with all the videos. Use spoilers, or just link to a song like I did. More japanese metal goodies: Gallhammer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs3fl_vrgY8 Gallhammer was formed by three chicks in 2003, none who knew how to play the instruments they'd end up playing in the band. It didn't take long before the band had gained a cult following both because of them being three japanese girls, but also because of their original approach to metal. The band sounds like a mix of Hellhammer and early Amebix with a strong Darkthrone influence to it. Crusty black/doom metal. Their two first albums and the compilation are top notch. They were a brilliant live band as well. Zadkiel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrn1zyGKAGE Raw black/speed metal in the vein of early Venom with lots of Motorhead thrown in. Both the EP and single are great releases. Bellzlleb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0uJkyVTFLE Wicked and theatrical heavy/doom and black/speed metal. I can't really think of many bands similar to this, but the dark, occult feeling of their first albums always gave me an early Sigh, Mystifier, Root and Rotting Christ-vibe despite not sounding anything like any of those. Rosenfeld https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY_D6IICbNg One of the early, japanese visual thrash metal bands with a nazi image. Really cool band with some great demos and a masterpiece of an album in the discography. Rommel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFuqAdriwck Another early visual speed/thrash metal band with a nazi iamge. It's not quite Rosenfeld, but it's more than enjoyable in my ears. I really dig this band. Mein Kampf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfhXou5CyCQ The names says it all doesn't it? Less thrashier than the others, but this band was truly great. Traditional speed metal with a nazi image. Speeder is a speed emtal masterpiece. Harkenkreuz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APCpa_cBV-0 You guessed it. Another visual nazi thrash metal band. They only have one demo and a split release to their name, bu the demo is really cool. Sabbrabells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tm6mnzFjEk Traditional heavy metal with an occult feeling similar to early Mercyful Fate, King Diamond, Hell and Angel Witch. A truly great band! White Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP-HsISFAKg Early black/speed metal. Released one single, and I dig it. Crowley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQXkr9EH0E Dark, occult heavy/speed metal fron Japan. One of my all-time favourite heavy metal acts. Both the EP and full lenghts are masterpieces. The band disbanded in the late 80's, but reformed in 2014. I don't have any great expectations, but looking forward to something new if they plan to release something. Flower Travellin' Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9FW0zMpCrI Classic psychedelic rock/heavy metal with a strong doom metal-vibe to it. Clearly influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and so on. Satori, which is their masterpiece, is really heavy for an early 70's release. 71 actually. You'll never hear anything like the masterpiece that is Satori. Jurassic Jade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koFiYJ5xqHQ Raw, female-fronted thrash metal. The classic album Gore is poorly produced, but it's a god damn great album. I'm not familiar with the band outside of Gore, but I know for a fact that Gore is totally worth checking out for thrash metal fans. Arkha Sva https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vtVSjAX3JI Black metal with a strong 90's french vibe to it. Obviously inspired by the french cult scene (Vlad Tepes, Belketre, Mutiilation). Great music and even greater vocals. Lots of amazing falsetto going on here and there. Avsolutized... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV7Eh5pkdiA Black metal band connected to Arkha Sva, but unlike Arkha Sva who's influenced by the french scene, this band is influenced by the swedish scene, especially Setherial whom they also cover. Ningen-Isu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLoUY1kA4ZY These guys formed in 87 and have released 18 full lenghts, some EPs and singles since then. They started out as a progressive rock band more inspired by Rush, Led Zepelin and Deep Purle, but over the years they've moved more towards a doom/heavy metal sound more similar to Black Sabbath but without leaving the progressive rock of Rhsh behind. Casbah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OncwKmzfwTI Early thrash metal with a strong death metal-vibe to it. Their early singles and demos are great. Terror Squad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipadglqnrAc The debut is a crazy punky thrash metal album, while the second is more progressive. This band is amazing, and sadly overlooked. You won't hear anything like this band ever. Aion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8dRdtjP8bI Visual thrash metal, but this time without the nazi iamge (as far as I know). Released a couple of great thrash metal albums before moving into more power metal influenced territory. Released some good power/thrash metal albums before they started to suck as well. By the mid 90's they'd gone from awesome to embarrassing and we do not talk about later Aion. Gonin-Ish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWqnofhRSLo These guys started off as an Anekdoten cover band but only used a few years before evolving into something very unique and original. Extreme progressive metal. All their releases features Junichi Harashima of Sigh behind the drum kit too. Great, underrated drummer. Hellchild https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYy5AXfW1Oo Old school death metal with a stong swedish vibe to it. Junichi Harashima played on a few albums for these guys as well. Multiplex https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwCMW1kglvc Death/grind with a strong Carbonized and Abhorrence feeling to it. Released one album and some EPs and shit and the album is very good. Satanic Hellslaughter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYQdp0gJ0M4 Released one demo and two splits, one of them together with Multiplex and another band. Fairly standard, but great, brutal death metal. The Thrashing Deathpower split with fellow countrymen Multiplex and Gibbed is truly great. All bands deliver music of high quality.

It's good to some some activity in this thread. I'll join in with some great bands that's not been mentioned yet. Sabbat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfF1S4Ga-Zw Cult black metal band formed in 1983, and one of my all-time favourite black metal bands. They're on of those bands that releases a shitload of useless compilations, splits, live albums and EPs all the fucking time and have a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge discography, but they've released 9 full-lenghts and 5 EPs that are must have's for any fan of black metal. None deserves a score worse than 9/10. A truly great band. Magnesium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4pYugANabo Formed back in 1992, but since then they've only released three demos, three splits, two live albums, a single and a compilation, so it's not all that to dig into. But the little they have released is great, and Time Tells No Lies / Over the Rainbow stands as one of my all-time favourite heavy metal releases. Passionate and real. Abigail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvQtAcUuiEQ I mentioned Barbatos in the OP, and Abigal is the main band of Barbatos' sole member Yasuyuki Suzuki. Started out as a standard black metal band, but after their debut, which is fantastic, they turned thrashier and kept playing black thrash until now. Fastkill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tj4Y64JJ0 Brutal thrash metal in the vein of old Kreator, Morbid Saint and Dark Angel. Straight-forward, brutal thrash metal with nothing new to offer, but what they do offer rules. Doom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSYNPSJeQWE Started out as a really unique progressive thrash metal before moving more towards the realm of avant-garde rock with later albums. Their first two-three albums are great. Gnome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1093lRDqeo Japanese black metal with a strong Burzum-vibe to it. Under the Black Moon is something beyond a masterpiece, and sadly one of the most overlooked gems in history of metal. Magnificent band! Coffins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptl1BF6PDPU Death/doom gods. They're like a mix of Autopsy, Winter and Celtic Frost. Brilliant band! Transgressor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgE4Z5ZcOOo Great band, and the debut album is a forgotten Autopsy and Death-influenced death metal gem. It's nothing original, but it's something very, very good. Messiah Death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJjTchnTHBk This band formed in 86, but only released three demos between 87 and 89 before they called the quits. Shame, because the demos are amazing. Raw death metal. Anatomia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8bwPR9hp6c Death/doom in the vein of Autopsy and Coffins. There's nothing original to be found anywhere in Anatomia's discography, but they're doing what they do really good so there's no need for originality. Will come back with more later.

We have a punk thread so I thought we should have a metal thread as well. Post everything japanese and metal, old or new doesn't matter. General talk about japanese metal. Simple as that. https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/track/satanik-holocaust-2 The rocking motherfuckers in Barbatos has a new album out soon, Straight Metal War, their first new album for 9 years. I'm a fan of Barbatos and their black/thrash/punk metal, so I am looking forward to this. It's more of the same, but when your usual output is great there's no need to change so who gives a fuck about that. I love the vocals on Goodbye High School Girls. Sounds like an improved Shigeyuki Koide (Gorgon) or something. Should be cool, and I hope we hear more of that on the album. Sludge gods Corrupted has a new EP released a month ago called 喪失：Loss. Looking forward to hear this one, as it's always exciting with new material from these guys. Couldn't find any of the songs online after a quick search though.

No problem. The clean vocals on the album is amazing. They really nailed that part.

Dir en grey are best when they're at their most progressive and serious/grown up/what the fuck you want to call it IMO. Goes for both the old and new Dir en grey.

It wasn't too bad actually. It can't have been more than 6-7 m/s at worst here, so it wasn't a problem at all. Being outside together with 27 7-8 year old kids with knife however isn't too alright. The way a couple of the handle their knifes, man. How I did not have to patch up a single wound duing the hour they had a knife in hand I do not get. Jesus. I'm happy we're only gonna do this once more next week for now and we're finished. Kids and knifes.

Read some of the reviews on metal-archives and you'll see plenty people calling them metal. I bet my ass that the majority of the reviews for Vanishing Vision, Blue Blood, Jealousy and Art of Life will refer to X Japan and the named albums as metal, because they are. They are also listed as a metal band on metal-archives. While not the biggest or most legendary metal band ever, but Vanishing Vision, Blue Blood and Art of Life are all regarded classic metal albums. But the best way to find out that X Japan is a metal band is to simply listen to their first albums. If you have any knowledge of the sounds of metal, you won't take long to find out they're a metal band. Or at least were.

I don't. How it is fucking blowing outside. God damn. Not looking forward to go to the bus in 10 minutes, and I sure as fuck does not look forward to spending 3-4 hours outside at work today. Ew.

False. First off, while X Japan was inspired by the glam scene, they didn't sound anything like the glam bands. Even deaf people are able to hear this. While glam bands mostly played heavy metal/rock, X Japan started off as a power/speed metal band. If they weren't metal, then bands like Helloween and Blind Guardian weren't metal either. And they were, so... Not metal...

A Chinese Ghost Story - One of the most original and unique films I've ever seen. Ching Siu-tung, perhaps best known for the fantastic films Duel to the Death and The Swordsman II, directed this film back in 1987 with Leslie Cheung, Joey Wang and Ma Wu in the leading roles. The film itself is completely different from anything you've ever seen and will see. It's a perfect blend of horror, romantic comedy and high fantasy wuxia, and it plays really well on all these genres. It's sweet and romantic, it's funny, it's atmospheric and it's exciting with great fights. The actors does amazing, the creature design is great and it's an overall fantastic film. I find nothing to complaina bout here. A Chinese Ghost Story II - Leslie Cheung returns to the sequel playing the same role, so does Wu Ma but he's playing a far smaller part in this sequel. Joey Wang returns as well, but as another character. Now, to the big question: does it live up to its predecessor? No, sadly it doesn't. The romantic comedy part feels less genuine and real, and the focus lies more on action, horror and special effects, which makes it lack that really unique touch from the first film. And the plot isn't quite as good either. Not even close. But the action is better. Really better, but then again the focus did not lie on the action for the first film. It's not a bad film, not at all, I love the film and I think it's amazing. It's just not on par with it's predecessor.

English Dogs and three cups delicious coffee at 6:25am rules. Highly recommended.

Nothing wrong with Rammstein, bro. Great band.

I agree with the solos. They lack character and are uninteresting for most part. They just doesn't add anything to the music itself. But Kadenzza is highly recommended from me. Both Into the Oriental Phantasma and The Second Renaissance are great albums. Totally different from Sigh, and You's style of guitar playing fits the music of Kadenzza way better. I get a Diabolical Masquerade and The Bishop of Hexen-esque feeling from the band, which I consider a good thing.

I've been playing this album a lot lately and count me impressed. Very, very impressive album. People who expect a new Onyx or En Oria will be disappointed, though. While it sounds 100% Nocternity, it's a much more stripped down and minimalistic album. It's cold, eerie and mystic. At times I get the image of walking through a foggy battlefield with dead bodies all around me. Fantastic album, even though it's not quite up there with the masterpieces that is Onyx and En Oria quite yet.

Depends on who you ask, and I disagree with that. I think the original Gallows Gallery have one of the best and most fitting productions ever. I love that muddy, almost garage-esque production. It makes it even more unique as the production is very unusual for a heavy/power metal album. I also love the production on Scenes From Hell. It really adds to the apocalyptic, hellish atmosphere on the album. And on top of that I think everything up to Hail Horror Hail, Imaginary Sonicscape, Hangman's Hymn and In Somniphobia sounds great production-wise. The only one I'd say is weak, except for the new one as of now, is Scenario IV: Dread Dreams. It lacks punch, but it's not something I think about when listening to the album. It's now awful, just a bit weak.

I've played it 20+ times now and I am still not completely used to the lack of Shinichi and the production, but I am really enjoying the album. It's "only" a 8/10 album so far, though. 8/10 would be great for any other band, but for Sigh it's pretty weak as they've never gone bellow 9/10 with an album before. I expect this to grow a lot with time, though, just like Scenes From Hell and Gallows Gallery did. I wasn't completely blown away for the first 50 listens with either of the two, but in 2015 i consider both to be perfect masterpieces. The band had a hard time mixing the album because they had a shitload of tracks and all that, but despite this and everything that happens on the album I think this sound like one of their most straight-forward albums since Ghastly Funeral Theater, along with Hangman's Hymn. Weird.