Yer Metal Is Olde

Yer Metal Is Olde: DragonForce – Inhuman Rampage

By Baguette of Bodom on February 15, 2026 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Power Metal, 66 comments

“Wait, the funny Guitar Hero III song is turning 20? What the fuck? Yes, indeed—what better way to kick off 2026 than to make the masses feel Olde? <DragonForce needs little introduction to anyone who existed during the ’00s. Born from the remnants of black metal band Demoniac in 1999, British guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman have always been the tandem at the center of the band with their Yngwie-esque “more is more” philosophy. Valley of the Damned and Sonic Firestorm already got significant attention, but 2006’s Inhuman Rampageis the one that made the band infamous.” DraGONES!

Yer Metal Is Olde: Metallica – Load

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 23, 2025 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Groove Metal, Hard Rock, 226 comments

“Next year, one of Metallica’s greatest albums will turn 30 years old. Yup, you guessed it, Load. That’s why I’m writing a YMIO piece for it this year. Not just to break the rules and piss off ole Steelio, but because the band just released a remastered version of this precious little gem. Why would they do that, you might ask? No fucking clue.” Load bearing.

Yer Metal is Olde: Dark Tranquillity – Character

By Grymm on May 31, 2025 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Melodic Death Metal, 55 comments

“Once heralded as a promising hotbed of melodic death metal goodness, Gothenburg, Sweden wasn’t quite the same back in 2005 as it was in the mid-to-late 1990s. In Flames was busy chasing the nü-metal dream, trading twin guitar melodies and acoustic folklore and beauty for jumpsuits, dreadlocks, and simplistic riffage. At The Gates, once the spearhead of the entire Gothenburg movement, was long gone at that point, and wouldn’t reunite for another couple of years. It was up to Dark Tranquillity to put the city back on the map, and despite their own dalliances in moody goth territory, it would take 2002’s Damage Done to marry their trademark melodic sensibilities with their newfound love for electronic influences and dark motifs.” Damage merchants.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Enslaved – Isa

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 22, 2025 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Viking Metal, 50 comments

“Not a single band out there really sounds like Enslaved—arguably modern Enslaved records included, many of which have landed mixed in these halls. But one thing is consistent in the Angry Metal Guy message: Enslaved’s peak period produced timeless records that should sit atop the rankings of many a list.” Olde and still bold.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Monstrosity – In Dark Purity

By Maddog on January 12, 2025 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Death Metal, 58 comments

“After releasing a stellar sophomore record Millennium in 1996, the band lost both its vocalist (Corpsegrinder, poached by Cannibal Corpse) and its guitarist. After replacing them and experiencing another round of guitarist turnover, Monstrosity trudges to the studio and records In Dark Purity. Against all odds, the album is an icon.” Abomination parade.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Fates Warning – FWX

By Dolphin Whisperer on December 20, 2024 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 49 comments

“Thirty-five years ago, Fates Warning solidified their shift from torchbearers of US power metal with 1989’s Perfect Symmetry, forever moving their progressive path away from power metal and into an emotional, twisting fusion of playful and grooving tunes that no one has assembled quite the same way since. Primary songwriter and guitarist Jim Matheos has anchored the Fates Warning playbook throughout all these changes—from wizards and wailing (Night on Bröcken to The Spectre Within), to Rushin’ and rollin’, and to the edges of Fates Warning’s technical limits. So then, already twenty-plus years into their career at the launch of FWX, what left had Matheos and co. to explore with the Fates sound?” Tempting the Fates.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Pain of Salvation – One Hour by the Concrete Lake

By Dolphin Whisperer on November 11, 2024 in Reviews, Yer Metal Is Olde, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 39 comments

“Music consumption today is vastly different from 1999. Instead of radio singles, we get algorithm-driven recommendations on streaming platforms. Notifications from Bandcamp, social media, and review sites have replaced zines, and online communities easily share music. Release dates are more visible, and archival data is more comprehensive. This means situations like what befell Pain of Salvation’s One Hour by the Concrete Lake simply wouldn’t happen today.” An olde PoS.

Yer Metal is Olde: Mastodon – Leviathan

By Saunders on October 27, 2024 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 87 comments

“Back in their early days, Atlanta’s progressive sludge juggernaut Mastodon could do little wrong. I remember perusing my local independent record store and being taken by the striking artwork and Relapse seal of approval on 2002’s debut Remission, roughly around the time of its release. After being crushed and destroyed by the iconic opening track, my love affair with Mastodon began.” Whale tales.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Opeth – Still Life

By El Cuervo on October 19, 2024 in Blog Posts, Yer Metal Is Olde, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 120 comments

“With a highly-anticipated new album due on the 22nd of November, there’s little introduction required for a progressive metal institution like Opeth. But on the eve of new material, I’m casting my ears back 25 years to the release that established these Swedes as one of the greatest bands in metal. I’ve loved most styles of Opeth and count a number of their records among my favorites ever. But, gun to my head, Still Life is at the top of my list. Is it the stylistic apex of their career?” Stop and appreciate some metal history today.

Yer Metal is Olde: Amorphis – Tales from the Thousand Lakes

By Grymm on July 12, 2024 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 71 comments

“Now here’s a desert island pick if there ever was one… Back in 1994, I discovered The Karelian Isthmus, the 1992 debut album by Finnish death metal upstarts Amorphis, at my local Newbury Comics. Upon hearing that its follow-up was due to drop soon, I played that album front-to-back on numerous occasions in preparation of its arrival, fully expecting a continuation of the debut’s doom/death musical motifs. Instead, the then-quartet added a keyboardist, discovered progressive rock, and took such a musical and lyrical left turn that not only turned heads.” Of olde lakes and timeless music.