Album Rating: 4.0

Nightside Eclipse rules, definitely worth getting. it's pretty different from this but not extremely far off.

Album Rating: 4.0

This has a very energetic sound in the conventional sense of the word, mostly due to the drums that are unlike typical black metal drumming, and some riffs that are more reminiscent of death metal. Sure, there are overlapping elements between this and Nightside, but that's honestly mostly because they are both black metal, except for maybe the chilling atmosphere of both, but it's not like that's uncommon in general... Nightside is much deeper in the core of the genre and not as accessible, more atmosphere-based and some may be turned off by the keyboards. So yeah, Sunlight, I won't ever advise against Nightside, but it won't be as "catchy" as this. (it's more beautiful though, in the black metal sense of the word)

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm not saying I won't like Emperor (will have to check) but it's not a given considering the differences you've outlined. I love the evil sounding atmosphere of this but the melodies & DM riffs are really enjoyable & like you say it's surprisingly energetic.



Is this closer to melodic DM but with BM influences then? (Yes, yes I know very little about all this).

Album Rating: 4.0

I'd actually say it's the other way around, but in general that's where most people would place this stylistically, and I think for a reason, yes



I should probably add that Nightside still isn't THAT inaccessible, after all it's a surprisingly melodic album. Just not in the same way as this

Album Rating: 4.0

Ah I see. Thanks for your insight, I'll definitely get around to checking Emperor at some point.

Album Rating: 5.0

Am I the only person who doesn't really see a heavy melodic death metal influence in this? Like there is almost certainly melodic influence on this but idk about melodic death metal. Although I guess I have to remind myself that old melodeath is a whole different beast than modern melodeath so maybe y'all are right.

This is the prime example of melo black/death so yeah it's probably u

Album Rating: 5.0

I tend to listen to a lot of modern melodeath, so I immediately think of Scar Symmetry/Omnium Gatherum/Be'Lakor/other shitey music because I have shitey music taste.

Album Rating: 4.0

The production style, guitar-tone and overall feeling of melodeath have changed a LOT over the past 20 years, so yeah, there's definitely a difference. Most records of the genre that are released today are pretty polished, pompous and have a lot of clean singing, but you only have to dig into the 90s eras of the "big" melodeath bands to find out that it wasn't always that way.



I mean, I don't think anyone of those who call this melodic black metal has Scar Symmetry in mind

Oh, well I still hear a ton of melody compared to say a blaze in the northern sky or something. I don't think many people would agree with you here.

Modern melo is certainly more cleaner sounding, a lot of the old school melo stuff still had a rather aggressive edge like edge of sanity or early at the gates.

Rik knows

Album Rating: 4.0

Edge of Sanity is actually a superb example

"I tend to listen to a lot of modern melodeath, so I immediately think of Scar Symmetry/Omnium Gatherum/Be'Lakor/other shitey music because I have shitey music taste."

Go listen to like Slaughter of the Soul or something mang

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm gonna check out some old school Swedish melodeath of this era then... At The Gates, Dark Tranqulity, In Flames etc. Should be fun.

Album Rating: 4.0

Check out Edge of Sanity's Crimson. Dan Swanö, the boss of Edge of Sanity, was the one who produced the first two Opeth albums and mixed this one right here, so he's been around a lot. Working on Orchid more or less inspired him to try more lengthy stuff, so he soon came out with that 40 minute song. It even features Mikael Akerfeldt doing some of the growls and a guitar solo. It's really an amazing album.

Album Rating: 3.5

edge of sanity best band ever made

Lol

Sunlight make sure to check the Gardens of Grief EP from AtG too.

Red in the Sky is Ours their best though.

"I'm gonna check out some old school Swedish melodeath of this era then... At The Gates, Dark Tranqulity, In Flames etc. Should be fun. "

Make sure you squeeze Garden of Shadows in there too (they aren't Swedish but they rule)

Album Rating: 3.5

with fear i kiss the burning darkness *

And while you're checking Gardens of Grief, make sure you check the Grotesque collection at once as well. It's not essential 'melodeath', but it's essential all the same