| Abominant |
Abominant is a raging melodic death metal band from Louisville, KY, that has been making quite a name for itself in the extreme metal scene for almost a decade now. Blending thrash and traditional metal elements into their volatile style, only greatnesss lays aheads for these goat metal veterans. Their newest album, "Upon Black Horizons" will be out soon. Check 'em out live. And kiss the fucking goat! |
| Assisting Sorrow |
Assisting Sorrow is an amazing melodic, technical death metal band from Louisville, Kentucky, with plenty of power and progressive metal influences. Experience this great band for yourself. |
| Amon Amarth |
Amon Amarth is a raging death metal band from Sweden with melodic and slight black metal influences. Containing Pagan-oriented lyrics of a Viking nature, you know this band would be a hit here at Socio-D. Plus, they are one of the greatest live bands you'll ever see. Hail Wotan! Drink beer! |
| Bathory |
Needless to say, Bathory was one of the first
black metal bands ever. If you enjoy raw, evil music in praise of the damned
one, then Quorthon and Bathory's early albums will set your soul on fire. Dare to be different. |
| Bedemon |
One of the most obscure, yet important, doom bands in metal history is Bedemon. Containing members of Pentagram and Death Row, Bedemon ranks right up there with other classic doom stalwarts such as Black Sabbath, Pagan Altar, Candlemass, and Saint Vitus. If you like doom, you will sacrifice to the Behemoth Demon! Look for a new album coming from the band soon, as well as classic(k) re-releases. |
| Black
Sabbath |
As everyone already knows, Black Sabbath is the
first and the best heavy metal band ever! Though the band has had its ups
and downs through the years, none can deny that it was one of the most
influential bands ever. Oh, and they also created the whole Doom Metal scene.
Bow at the altar! |
| Blind
Guardian |
This is one of the most popular and renowned
bands in German metal history. If you like epic, medieval-sounding power metal,
then you'll definitely get into Blind Guardian. They are a must listen for all J.R.R. Tolkein fans! Check out their new "And Then There Was Silence" CD Single now! |
| Blood
For Blood |
Blood For Blood is one of the most brutal, hateful,
anti-social bands in hardcore today. This Boston four-piece makes one want
to destroy everything in site! Think Madball meets Neglect meets Sheer
Terror. Highest recommendation. |
| Candlemass |
If total over-powering sadness and depression
make your life feel like it's worth living, then Candlemass is the band
for you. This Swedish band practically invented "epic doom" metal. A must. |
| Carnivore |
This is Peter Steele's first band, before he
formed Type O Negative. Brooklyn's original
misanthropic is-it-right-wing-or-is-it-left-wing metalcore band! Remember, "if you can't eat it or fuck it, then kill it!" |
| Celtic
Frost |
Celtic Frost is one of the most influential
bands in metal history. Not only did they provide inspiration for countless
black metal, death metal, and noise bands, they also influenced quite a
few hardcore and crust bands, as well. Definitely one of the better bands
in metal history, or at least until they sold out and became glam metal.
Uggh! Mission statement: "To Mega Therion." |
| Compression |
This defunt Baltimore band was one of the
most unique outfits in hardcore. Brutal and intense on one hand, yet uniquely
melodic and psychedelic on the other. Check 'em out! |
| Coronach |
Formerly known as "Vivisection," Coronach is a great new melodic death metal band hailing from Louisville, KY. Containing ex-members of Assisting Sorrow, this band is fresh and innovative and is no stranger to the live circuit. They balance melody and heaviness quite well. Get ahold of their debut "The Gift Of Foresight" CD and await with bated breath their upcoming promo. |
| Destiny's End |
Featuring ex-members of Helstar and New Eden, Destiny's End is rising to the top of heavy metal consciousness...and deservedly so. Find out why. Melodic power metal conquers! |
| Forgotten Silence |
From the Czech Republic comes Forgotten Silence, one of the most innovative bands in the extreme metal underground. Forging an avant garde mixture of progressive death metal with other disparate styles, this band must be experienced by all open-minded metal fans. Just don't order anything from their front-man "Krusty." He is a rip-off! |
| Gaebalein |
Gabaelein is a raging melodic death metal band with black metal influences from Louisville, KY. Amidst this excellent new band are two members of Coronach and a former member of Assisting Sorrow. Check out their debut album, coming soon! |
| Gwar |
This band puts on one of the best live shows
you'll ever see. Plus, you have to admit their decidedly anti-PC lyrics
and blatant mixture of metal and punk is quite fun to listen to. Gwar,
dammit! |
| Hammerfall |
If extremely skillful power metal reminiscent
of the glory days of the early 1980s gets you throwing the sign of the
horn into the air, then Hammerfall will induce massive haemoraging. Check
this band out. Archaic is in, after all. |
| Iced
Earth |
Iced Earth is one of the heaviest and darkest
power metal bands ever. This Indiana band mixes old-style heavy metal
with thrash and doom for one truly harrowing musical experience. One of Sociopathic Despair's all-time favourite bands, you absolutely
must check this innovative group out. Best album: "Burnt Offerings." Check out their awesome new "Dark Genesis" box set, while you're at it. |
| In The Woods |
This Norwegian pagan band started out as a harsh black metal band and have since become more of a symphonic doom band with strong folk and classical influences. They are well worth experiencing, so get to it. Hail Luna! |
| Iron Maiden |
In the annals of heavy metal history, one of the most influential bands ever is none other than Iron Maiden. Maiden, Priest, and Sabbath are the unholy trinity of metal, and don't ever forget it, guy. |
| Kamelot |
This excellent band from Tampa, Florida, plays jazz-inflected, Medieval-styled progressive power metal. They are a lot like older Dream Theater and Savatage, but heavier. What is it about Florida and progressive metal, anyway?! Don't miss: "The Fourth Legacy." |
| King
Diamond |
What can we say other than that King Diamond
is the godfather of black metal. We dare say that he is the greatest front-man in metal history.
He is the man with a hundred voices, the king of the macabre! Anxiously awaiting: "Abigail II." |
Liege Lord |
This legendary band plays true power metal that will cause all false metallers to run in fright. Reexperience the old school! |
| Lord
Belial |
Lord Belial is one of the best black
metal bands we've ever experienced. These Swedish pagans are absolutely
amazing. If you're not into black metal, you are not their friend! |
| Lord Weird Slough Feg |
Don't let the odd name of this band confuse you. This San Francisco-based group performs a unique and innovative mix of raging traditional metal with Celtic folk music. Think of a young Iron Maiden with an excellent Irish sounding vocalist. Odd? Yes! Cool? Immensely! |
| Madd
Hunter |
This band consists of ex-members of Wargasm and
Steel Assassin. They play early to mid-eighties heavy metal ala Omen,
Saxon, and Manowar. Very nostalgic and powerful! |
| Manowar |
Manowar is undoubtedly one of the greatest heavy metal bands ever. Nothing else need be said. Death to false metal! Into Glory Ride! |
| The Meads Of Asphodel |
The Meads Of Asphodel is a unique symphonic black metal band from England with a smattering of triphop elements. Lyrically centered on Apocryphal and paganistic themes, this band is certainly worth the attention its garnered as of late. |
| Memory Garden | Memory Garden is one of the best epic doom metal bands ever. They play a mix of "Nightfall"-era Candlemass with old Fates Warning and Solitude Aeturnus. Awesome! |
| Mercyful
Fate |
Mercyful Fate is absolutely one of the greatest bands in metal
history. If you like dark, scarey, evil music, then Mercyful
Fate is the band for you. They rule! |
| Morbid Angel |
As all true death metal freaks are aware, Morbid Angel is one of the finest bands in the genre. They continue to pound out some of the most complex and brutal death metal hymns in praise of the Ancient Ones and will continue to do so for years to come, thank Dagon! |
| Mortician |
This is one of the most gore-encrusted and extreme bands in the grindcore/death metal scene today. They are living legends of fuzz-infested sickness. Oh how the wicked thrive! |
| Motorhead |
Any heavy metal links listing would be incomplete without the inclusion of this classic hard rock/punk/metal band. You know Motorhead rules, so step back. Get ready to amp out! |
| Necrophagia |
Necrophagia is a vomit-inducing old school thash/death metal band from New Orleans. Check out their disturbingly gorey, horror-inspired lyrics and crazed vocals. Blaaaagh! |
| Nevermore |
For those who seek the absolute best in heavy metal, stray not far from the dark beknighted aggression that is Nevermore. Featuring ex-members of Sanctuary, one simply can't go wrong with this excellent modern power metal/doom band. |
| Nyctophobic |
This is an innovative grindcore band from Germany that
will induce forced purges of the most inexorable kind. Raaaggh! Check out their new "Insects" CD out now! |
| Nile |
Nile is one of death
metal's most innovative and striking bands. This South Carolina quartet performs
exceptionally heavy music with lyrics based on ancient Egyptian religion
and myths. But you already knew that! Can you say "evil"?! |
| New Society Of Anarchists
| This Milwaukee band pounds out fierce old school hardcore similar to Madball, Agnostic Front, and old Sick Of It All with slight new school influences ala Fury Of V. They also mix in a dash of thrash metal, just for the Hell of it. Dey kick da shit up, bitch! Check out their amazing new CD "The Few, The Proud, The Brutal." |
| Place Of Skulls |
Place Of Skulls is an excellent new traditional doom metal band from Tennessee featuring ex-members of Pentagram, Death Row, and Molly Hatchet. Dark, positive, and spiritual are all words describing this band, newly signed to doom metal heavyweight Southern Lord Records! Check out their awesome new "The Fall" 7" e.p. |
| Punchin'
Judy |
Punchin' Judy is an obscure hardcore band from
Tennessee that mixes a lot of metal and punk into its sound. Kinda like
Agnostic Front meets Jason And The Scorchers. Totally unique. Plus they're
ECW fans! |
| Rhapsody |
Rhapsody is an awe-inspiring Italian power metal band that absolutely must be experienced by all true metal-heads. They perform epic, classical-influenced songs about medieval and fantasy topics that is as grand as it is captivating. Hail the new kings of metal! |
| Scholomance |
If you want to experience a totally unique band,
then look no further than Scholomance. This dark progressive metal trio
from Missouri has been nicknamed the "Dream Theater of black metal." Find
out why. Don't miss their amazing new album "The Immortality Murders." |
| Seasons
Of The Wolf |
Seasons Of The Wolf is the kind of band that
would make any fan of mid-eighties metal go bonkers! They present the perfect
mix between Manowar, Iron Maiden, Metal Church, Blue Oyster Cult, and Helstar, yet remain
unique and innovative. The band even has a slight goth feel to their progressive
style. Check out their amazing new album "Nocturnal Revelation." |
| Shadows Fall |
Shadows Fall is an absolutely awe-inspiring melodic death metal band from Massachussetts. The band mixes hardcore and progressive metal arrangements into their brutally technical style to form a more captivating aural landscape of originality. Immensely recommended! |
| Sigh | Sigh is an excellent old school black metal band from Japan that mixes in a lot of thrash metal, classical, kabuki, jazz, and eastern folk music into it's blasphemously intoxicating style. You must listen to this band. They will slay thee. |
| Solitude
Aeturnus |
This Texas band is one of the mightiest doom
metal bands ever. They mix extremely depressing doom with exceptionally dark
progressive metal. Intensely morose! Like Candlemass meets Black Sabbath
meets early Fates Warning. One of our favourite bands ever! Worship: "Into The Depths Of Sorrow." |
| Sludge! |
Sludge! is a unique metallic hardcore band
from southern New Jersey. They kick ass and are personal quite entertaining. Check out this hard-working DIY band if you want something that is different and will blow you away. Be on the lookout for their killer new full-length CD coming soon! |
| Somber Blessings |
Somber Blessings is a doom band with death metal influences from Old Salem, MA (home of the infamous seventeenth century Salem Witch Trials). The band also incorporates many classical and folk influences for a truly innovative and melodic audio experience. Check out their spellbinding new CD, "Legend." |
| Stratovarius | For fans of skillful and melodic progressive power metal, check out this under-appreciated Finnish band along the lines of Helloween and older Fates Warning. |
| Suffocation |
This New York band is one of the most renowned
and imitated bands in death metal. Brutality is their middle name. Find
out why they rule! |
| Thorns
Of The Carrion |
This Newport, KY band is one of the absolute
best in underground doom metal, with a slight death metal and gothic influence.
Majesty and melody collide with melancholy and misanthropy. Immense. |
| Thyrfing |
Thyrfing is an awesome Pagan metal band with black metal, power metal, and melodic elements. Check them out then pillage. Wotan would be proud! |
| Venom |
These guys are the fathers of black metal, alongside
Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and Mercyful Fate. Find out why. Welcome to Hell! |
| Withered Earth |
Withered Earth is one of the most innovative and interesting bands in the death metal underground. You absolutely must check out this brutally intense 3-guitarist band. Or perish. |
| Yearning |
Yearning is a great epic, melodic doom metal band from Finland with symphonic elements and a slight hint of goth classicism. Listen to them on a cold melancholic night. |
