C O L U M N S

Tales from the Jugular

Escaping the Extreme: The Non-Metal Moments

By: Eric Compton
Published: Friday, June 3, 2016
We've all experienced it...that moment where metal no longer is a reason to rise and exist each day. Granted those moments are few and far between, but at some point our brains need that wine and dine, all-inclusive resort for some rest and relaxation. Mine? Folk music for a few weeks, maybe some actual Country and Western music or-- my favorite-- horror movie scores.

"Horror movie soundtracks are typically connected in some way to heavy metal at its deepest core."

Horror movie soundtracks are typically connected in some way to heavy metal at its deepest core. While Beethoven himself would probably worship some neo-classical shred king out of Finland right now, I think that he might equally admire a lot of the retro wave bands that are doing 70s and 80s styled synth. There's a whole host of them out there from GosT to Lazerhawk to Cluster Buster that are enamored with the slasher films of the 80s and those Italian zombie movies that you tape traded for back in the day. As we've seen more and more extreme bands go electronic (i.e. Ulver), it is this type of synth heavy music that bridges the two worlds and accommodates fans that might need a little melancholy with their metal.

Here's a few bands and albums to check out with some emphasis on key songs that best represent their catalog:

BAND: GosT
SONG: Night Crawler
ALBUM: Behemoth

BAND: Cluster Buster
SONG: Regiment of the Undead
ALBUM: Knee Deep in the Dead



BAND: Anders Manga
SONG: Hexed
ALBUM: Hexed
BAND: Anima Morte
SONG: Illusion is the Catalyst
ALBUM: Upon Darkened Stains


BAND: Slasher Dave
SONG: Graves
ALBUM: Tomb of Horror
BAND: Gavino Morretti
SONG: The Living Dead (II)
ALBUM: Assault of the Living Dead


BAND: Lazerhawk
SONG: Visitors
ALBUM: Visitors
BAND: Umberto
SONG: Night Stalking
ALBUM: Prophecy of the Black Widow


BAND: Videogram
SONG: Walpurgisnacht
ALBUM: Videogram
BAND: VHS Glitch
SONG: Run for your Life
ALBUM: Night on the Dark Hill



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RANDOM ACTS OF METAL
. Demons and Wizards. HammerFall
. Slipknot. The Great Deceiver
. Vehemence. Grave
. Karaboudjan. Poisonblack
. Grave Digger. Regurgitate
. Goatwhore. Machine Head
. Kataklysm. Skullview
. Solace. Overkill
. Majesty. Usurper
. Godflesh. Advent
. Crematorium. Firewind
. Valley's Eve. Agony Divine
. Catch 22. The Graveyard Boulevard
. Curriculum Mortis. Steel Preacher
. King Diamond. Sludge!
. Beautiful Creatures. Axenstar
. Savatage. Windseeker
. Hypocrisy. Pharaoh
. Edguy. Defiled
. Project: Failing Flesh. Secret Sphere
. Drowning Pool. Devil To Pay
. Exodus. UFO
. Leash Law. Cans
. Graveland. Skyfire
. Highlord. U.D.O.
. Destructor. Devil In The Kitchen
. Insomnium. Vox Tempus
. Metal Church. Shadows Fall
. Medusa. Eternal Flight
. Polterchrist. Slowlife
. House of Shakira. Dark Ruin
. Mine. The Project Hate
. Silent Force. Negative Creeps
. Overlorde. The 7 Method
. Triumph. Scenteria
. Motley Crue. Cradle To Grave
. Emerald Sun. Gods Of Fire
. Rottweiller. The Apocalyptic Riders
. Soilwork. Soulscar
. Suidakra. Carina Alfie
. Angtoria. Chuck Schuldiner
. Crimson Moonlight. Kaamos
. Omegalord. Meshuggah
. Drunkard. Holy Moses
. Strapping Young Lad. Raging Speedhorn
. Astarte. Gemini 5
. Leaves Eyes. The Father Panic Riot Orchestra
. Thor. Wetwork
. Sheavy. A Lower Deep
. The Scourger. Loits
. Redemption. Black Majesty
. Orphaned Land. Russell Allen
. Armored Saint. Bolt Thrower
. Dechrist. Even X
. Wolfmother. Midnight Idols
. Detonation. Insense
. Sodom. Wolves in the Throne Room
. The Berzerker. Cryptopsy
. The Furor. Abysmal Dawn
. Theater of Tragedy. Cult of Luna
. Bloodbound. Destruction
. War Within. Paul Bonrud
. Skid Row. Jeff Walker und Die Fluffers
. Abominant. Biolich
. Lesbian Bed Death. Demise
. Blood Tsunami. Lord Belial
. Old Man's Child. Textures
. Mithras. Pentacle
. Rob Zombie. Transmission 0
. Ulcerate. Shining Star
. Ride The Sky. Aetherius Obscuritas
. Pop Evil. Straight Line Stitch
. Vulture Industries. Embalming Theatre
. Celestia. Place Of Skulls
. Papa Roach. Faded Hope
. Winterfylleth. Mustasch
. Sotajumala. Uli Jon Roth