Best Ever Albums

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

babyBlueSedan — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 10:55:39 GMT

Author: babyBlueSedan

Posted: 11/20/2016 15:55

Seasons in the Abyss wins 15-6

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

Temporary33 — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 01:25:15 GMT

Author: Temporary33

Posted: 11/17/2016 06:25

Subsume (the album) reminds me of one of my favorite metal bands Scale the summit. It's often very reminiscent of a state of daydream where one can be consumed in thought, yet refreshed and relaxed.

I like slayer a lot too.

Vote to Cloudkicker

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

RockyRaccoon — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 12:37:52 GMT

Author: RockyRaccoon

Posted: 11/15/2016 17:37

Hadn't heard Subsume before this, but I really enjoyed it. Unfortunate that it has to go up against Seasons, which is just a killer of an album, and I've gotta go for that. But still, Subsume was some really solid post-metal.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

Dingerbell — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 07:14:14 GMT

Author: Dingerbell

Posted: 11/15/2016 12:14

Having never heard of Cloudkicker I was intrigued for what it would be like. Subsume was actually really good, I definitely enjoyed it a lot, maybe could have had a bit more of the intense moments which were the best part of the album, but the quieter parts were still good.

However, Seasons in the Abyss is fantastic and gets my vote.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

babyBlueSedan — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 17:07:37 GMT

Author: babyBlueSedan

Posted: 11/14/2016 22:07

I bumped up Subsume's rating after another listen but I'm still not crazy about it. I know this is a poor criticism but it feels like it should be heavier than it is - that droning guitar tone that permeates a couple of the tracks kinds of washes out what could have been some hard hitting riffs. I like the repetitiveness and enjoyed listening to it again, but it's not something I think I need to hear again.

So vote to Slayer, though depending on what it's up against next round I can't see myself voting for it again.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 16:34:07 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 11/14/2016 21:34

badseed wrote:

The night this happened I made an 8 hour long playlist on my iTunes as an experiment to kind of grasp what is and isn't ideal for the occasion. I was pretty proud of that playlist, as it started out primarily psychedelic with all the hippy music from the 60s but I made it ride a wave of darkness in the middle with lots of metal, post rock and slowcore and that combined with running around shooting zombies in an apocalyptic flame-filled setting made me feel like I was in hell

Interesting 😈

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

HazeyTwilight — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 15:54:07 GMT

Author: HazeyTwilight

Posted: 11/14/2016 20:54

Subsume is pleasant, but that's about it. Seasons In the Abyss is an enjoyable Slayer album, so I went with that.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

badseed — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 14:58:40 GMT

Author: badseed

Posted: 11/14/2016 19:58

Graeme2 wrote:

I've never taken acid but if I ever did the last thing I'd want to put on would be Slayer! :shock:

They're definitely not my go-to band for tripping (although acid makes 99 out of 100 bands sound better than if you're sober). The night this happened I made an 8 hour long playlist on my iTunes as an experiment to kind of grasp what is and isn't ideal for the occasion. I was pretty proud of that playlist, as it started out primarily psychedelic with all the hippy music from the 60s but I made it ride a wave of darkness in the middle with lots of metal, post rock and slowcore and that combined with running around shooting zombies in an apocalyptic flame-filled setting made me feel like I was in hell (again, not ideal for everyone, but I can usually keep a grasp on reality and not freak out). The lyrics and pace of "Seasons in the Abyss" are pretty basic most of the time but on this night it was a mindfuck and went perfectly with the setting.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 09:13:19 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 11/14/2016 14:13

Premise: I'm not gonna rate albums i'll listen only once and only for the tournament.

Seasons: It's one year or so that i started to love Slayer and really that love is still well alive. And Seasons is my second favourite Slayer after Reign in Blood. It's just full of great songs with awesome riffs and has that non-stop fury approach which is what they can do best, imo. So it would've been really hard to beat.

Subsume: A post-metal thing is really what i was expecting, basing on the cover. I have mixed feelings about the genre, not really my genre but i truly love some things. This is pretty good, but most of it keeps a dreamy and hopeful mood that i didnt like too much for this genre. Second track is darker, has some great riffs, and i liked the progressive touch: def the track i enjoyed the most. Overall i would've liked the album more if it was darker and maybe less decorative.

Voted to Seasons.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

babyBlueSedan — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 08:58:54 GMT

Author: babyBlueSedan

Posted: 11/14/2016 13:58

badseed wrote:

As I went to rate Subsume I noticed that our baby blue host appears to be less fond of it than I was, while everyone else thinks it's pretty darn good. I don't know why I felt the need to point that out, just thought it was interesting. What didn't you like about it boss?

My feelings were kind of simular to yours - it's a pleasant enough album but it doesn't really go anywhere. I have that opinion on a lot of post rock actually - while it's enjoyable to listen to it doesn't make a big enough impression on me to go back and listen again. I plan to give it another listen before voting in this match up, so my rating could very well go up.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

Graeme2 — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 03:47:27 GMT

Author: Graeme2

Posted: 11/14/2016 08:47

I've never taken acid but if I ever did the last thing I'd want to put on would be Slayer! 😲

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

badseed — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 03:36:49 GMT

Author: badseed

Posted: 11/14/2016 08:36

As I went to rate Subsume I noticed that our baby blue host appears to be less fond of it than I was, while everyone else thinks it's pretty darn good. I don't know why I felt the need to point that out, just thought it was interesting. What didn't you like about it boss?

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 18:35:49 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 11/13/2016 23:35

I hesitated a bit before I voted.
When I listened to Reign in Blood for the first time a few years ago, I did not think I could ever say I can appreciate Slayer. But recently, this is the case. I'm on the path of reconciliation with Slayer and Thrash Metal in general. Seasons of the Abyss is growing in me...but not yet enough to surpass the beautiful discovery of Cloudkicker. So I voted for Subsume.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

badseed — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 16:05:06 GMT

Author: badseed

Posted: 11/13/2016 21:05

Had time to do one of these before work. In this match-up it's the album I've known and enjoyed for longer than any other in this tournament going against the total unknown (the latter of which will be common during this tournament). I decided in all fairness to give both albums a fresh listen and will do so for every match. Here are my thoughts:

Subsume - Not knowing what I was getting into I was impressed to find a post-rock kind of metal at first. The opening is pretty good and making it through the first half of the album I was intrigued to see where it went. But then it all kinda just went. Not uphill. Not downhill. Just like coasting. I don't know. The music was quite good, but the repetitive nature of the last twenty minutes kind of lost the post rock edge and sounded as if it was missing lyrics; it sounds like the karaoke tracks for a couple of epic metal songs.

Seasons in the Abyss - Not my go-to Slayer album, but still so fucking good. It's just structured so well. Although all the tracks are great it seems to ride a perfect wave. "War Ensemble" is an awesome opener, it peaks so hard in the middle with "Expendable Youth", "Dead Skin Mask" (best track on the album), and "Hallowed Point." Then it just continues the assault and ends with the title track which as listening to it I have a flashback to the last time I heard it a couple years back, tripping on acid in the dark while playing Zombies on Call of Duty and freaking the fuck out.

Final Verdict: Seasons in the Abyss

I'm glad I heard Subsume; the first half of the album was really good, but it just isn't close here. Perhaps I'll look more into Cloudkicker one day and give them another shot to impress but here and now the kings of thrash take it.

Re: Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

Graeme2 — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 15:31:24 GMT

Author: Graeme2

Posted: 11/13/2016 20:31

Full expected to be voting for slayer but I went with Cloudkicker, who I'd never heard of, even though I know seasons well. I think subsume is a great record and I'll be revisiting it plenty. I've rated it high. It's very inventive and progressive. Best discovery so far.

Best Metal Album, Round 1: Subsume vs Seasons In the Abyss

babyBlueSedan — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 10:24:30 GMT

Author: babyBlueSedan

Posted: 11/13/2016 15:24

Round 1 Matchup:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Subsume by Cloudkicker

(nominated by Norman Bates)

vs.

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Seasons In The Abyss by Slayer

(nominated by Mercury)