Top 10 MTG Sets Of All Time

How are all of you doing today?

Before we get to my no. 1 album of 2022 in a week or two, I want to post up something that’ll keep you all nice & full. I was considering doing a 3rd entry into the realm of best DLCs & Expansion Packs, but that’ll have to wait a bit since I wasn’t thinking about it too hard on it. However, the list I ultimately did make for today was pretty easy. With MTG creeping onto this blog in recent years, it was an easy pick for one of my typical lists, and that’s what I chose. So, without further delay, here are my top 10 Magic The Gathering sets of all time. Enjoy!

10) 10th Edition (Quiet Nerd)

If I’m being at least somewhat honest, this spot was somewhat of a filler area. Virtually everywhere else I was able to figure out what set to put there, but here it took a tiny bit of work. Yet, at this same time I don’t exactly regret picking this choice.....due to 1 odd memory from 15+ years ago.

I was at the hobby shop I highly frequent (Their 2nd location to be specific), and it just so happened to be the release day for 10th Edition. We all got our packs, opened them, and proceeded to make our decks, I don’t know how, but that release marks the only time I ever managed to get to a high position. Second Place, to be exact! I don’t know: maybe it’s that lone memory that gets 10th Edition onto this list. In any case, it seems like one of these edition releases had to get somewhere on here, and maybe this was that version.

9) Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures In The Forgotten Realms (Game Knights)

Fun. That is the best way to describe the first full release in the Universes Beyond line of Magic The Gathering. The first pre-release I attended once the Plague began to subside back in 2021, I remember not doing all that well, but I definitely remember the cards. Wizards Of The Coast did a really good job at bringing not only the flavor of Dungeons & Dragons into MTG, but more specifically the world of the Forgotten Realms. The realm of Faerûn was the first setting of D&D to really get me hooked on the game, and to see so many references to it’s characters and story warmed my nerdy heart. It may not have been completely practical, but to say there was no power in this set is just absurd!

8) Zendikar Rising (Game Knights)

To say the MTG landscape in 2020 was weird is saying something: even if COVID didn’t come to our shores (Or anywhere, for that matter), even if the political climate here in the United States wasn’t an unmitigated hellscape of bullshit, Magic The Gathering was still changing in odd ways. There were so many new kinds of boosters, sets became more frequent, Commander & Commander related products started becoming more frequent, you name it. The Year of the Plague had a variety of sets, and while I was incredibly close to putting the tribute to all things Kaiju in the release that was Ikoria, for some random reason our 3rd trip to the world of Zendikar made more sense.

In a strange twist, Zendikar Rising ended up being my favorite trip to the plane out of the 3 times we went. In a year that had rampant death and disease, it was nice to see a realm filled with endless possibilities for exploration & wonder. It was nice to see adventurers getting together and explore ruins young & old in an effort to get some special treasure. The rather boundless optimism of this world was a stark contrast to the viral-ridden year that was 2020. It was the exact opposite of the isolation most if not all of us were feeling, and it was the exact opposite of the fear of death we all felt at some point during that time. If you missed this release the first time, you might want to get your hands on a few boosters before the end of the decade. It’s worth your time & money without a doubt!

7) Time Spiral (Magic Untapped)

True story: after my Uncle Randy passed away, we’re up in Watertown to attend his funeral. That very same week, the first previews of Time Spiral occurred, and it was a weird sensation for me. I definitely liked what I saw, but what I was feeling at the time with the death of my Uncle made for a conflicting mindset. So much so, that when Time Spiral Remastered came out in 2021, I only ever got a small few boosters for fear of bad memories possibly coming. Even with that fault, I will not deny that Time Spiral was a funky set. Filled with throwbacks to MTG’s past, it also introduced a lot of quirky mechanics (Suspend in particular), and many of them continue to hold some relevance in the landscape today. Planar Chaos & Future Sight were no slouches either, as they had their own bevy of mechanics and additions to the game, with some still existing now in 2023. It’s a testament that nearly 20 years later, the Time Spiral block continues to hold relevance among it fans, and despite it’s mild negative connections in my life, it acts as a pleasant vision to a more happier time in my life.

6) Ravnica: City Of Guilds (Magic Untapped)

The first time that we went to the famous city plane was also the first time that I went to a release day event. It’s kind of hard to remember what it was like, save for me being a rather awkward late teen. The one thing I definitely recall was falling in love with one of the most iconic worlds in MTG of this century so far. Have a city cover an entire plane of existence, fill it with 10 different groups that all encompass different aspects of the plane, as well as a dash of intrigue, and you have a recipe for success. Though one of the sets at my no. 1 spot (Hint Hint) turned me on to the color combination of Black and Green, it was encountering the undercity denizens from the Golgari Swarm that I fell in love with that mix. With both Ravnica: Remastered and Murders At Karlov Manner coming out at the beginning of 2024, it’s obvious that the legacy of this world is not in doubt.

5) Warhammer 40k (Game Knights)

Though Adventures In The Forgotten Realms was the first time we technically had a Universes Beyond release, it was a vision into the grimdark future of the 41st millennium where it got a foothold in Commander. I spoke pretty highly about these 4 decks last year when I put them at no. 1 on my top 5 games list of 2022, and I still gush about them to this day. The decks were wonderfully designed, the mechanics of each card was just perfect, and the art & flavor had a lot of love & care put into the packages that were the Imperium, the Ruinous Powers, the Necron Dynasties, and the Tyranid Swarm. This level of quality managed to extend to Tales Of Middle Earth, as well as.....ah, I can’t say anything yet about the newest addition to the Universes Beyond family just yet. Regardless, the Commander decks of Warhammer 40k were of exceptional quality, so grab them if you spot them!

4) Commander 2011 (Commander Void)

It seemed only appropriate that my first venture into the realm of Commander gameplay makes it onto this list. For a decade plus, I slowly became fixated on this game mode. So much so, that I got 2 toolboxes full of EDH decks, and plenty of boxes outside of those 2 filled with decks as well. However, it was the 5 released in 2011 that planted the seeds of obsession I’ve been harvesting in recent memory. If anything, Heavenly Inferno, Mirror Mastery, Counterpunch, Political Puppets, and Devour For Power (My 1st & personal favorite) are still just as strong now as they were over a decade since they came out. Their design influenced every other release in the series since, and while a few other decks in later years would eclipse these 5 in terms of design & power, these foundation layers are still looked back at fondly. Though they are incredibly difficult to find now, if you somehow spot any of the previously mentioned decks, get them before someone else does!

3) Strixhaven (Game Knights)

2021 had quite a lot of good releases that year, with perhaps (In my humble opinion) the best of them being the Harry Potter inspired Strixhaven. Known as the School Of Mages, this upbeat & energetic set was a big happy boost to the brain after what 2020 & the early parts of 2021 were, and it shows. Taking enemy color combos & putting them on their head, Strixhaven knew how to have fun not only with it’s setting, but the changes to the color pairings that inhabited this magical place of learning as well. Even the Commander decks released for this set were fantastic, and contained some pretty potent commanders that still carry weight in the current landscape. I can only hope that we visit this lovely collage later on this decade, cause it would be a shame not too!

2) Kaladesh (Lorebrarians)

It is by a few nose hairs that this realm of India & Steampunk (Aetherpunk according to the developers). It is by a few inches that this realm of optimism & creativity didn’t get to no. 1. Make no mistake: Kaladesh was one of my absolute favorite sets from 2016. Again, I loved that they were able to combine the colors & atmosphere of India, with the visual ascetic of Steampunk. Not only that, but the ideals of optimism, creativity, and hope were incredibly strong. Not just in Kaladesh, but in the secondary set Aether Revolt as well. With the threat of the Phyrexians seemingly gone for the time being, I hope we’re able to go back & revisit the plane to see how it’s doing!

1) Champions Of Kamigawa (Magic Untapped) & Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (Game Knights)

Any of you who know me personally should not be surprised by what’s at no. 1. Anyone that’s been a close friend of mine for 20-something years shouldn’t be shocked by what’s here.

For starters, we got the original Champions Of Kamigawa block. Though it’s not mechanically friends with sets released before & after it, and maybe it could have been a hint (Emphasis on “Hint”) more respectful towards the culture it drew inspiration from, it’s hard not to deny the flavor of the original Kamigawa. Take feudal era Japan, add a healthy dose of fantasy, and possibly just a small dash of anime vibes, and you end up with the first time we went to this world. It’s hard to believe that, despite many looking back on it fondly now, it was met with a bit of disdain nearly 20 years ago. Still, Champions Of Kamigawa (along with Betrayers & Saviors) is a relic of it’s time that many look at very fondly, and it’s a reminder of how I got into MTG so long ago.  

And of course, there’s Neon Dynasty. If anything, the words that I’ll put here will just be from somewhere else on this blog. Again, I felt nothing but pure unadulterated genuine joy visiting the world of Kamigawa nearly 20 years since the first time. Not only that, but the world has gone from a realm of feudal lords to a world of neon & steel, yet much of the ancient traditions have managed to survive the 1,000+ year transition since it’s oldest days. The Kami now live alongside the various races of the plane, and giant mechs fly in the sky alongside dragons. Even if you weren’t a fan of the story, there are other things to like about it. The artwork in particular is exceptionally wonderful: not only was the base art gorgeous, but the various Japanese artists contracted to make the Showcase Art was jaw-droppingly beautiful, and showed that this 2nd trip to Kamigawa was far more inspired by anime than the original version. If we get a 3rd trip by the end of the decade, you can bet that I will be happy to go back!  

So those were my top 10 MTG sets of all time. Some of the choices are probably a surprise, while other definitely aren’t if you know me. Time will tell as to what would appear on another list like this, but can be sure that it’ll be a surprise regardless.. So, with this out of the way, it’s time to look at the other record from 2022 that made it to no. 1. See you next week......for a little bit of Lightwork!

Album Review: Everfrost's Frostbites

Welcome to November fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We’re in the home stretch everybody. Not much longer before 2023 transitions into 2024, and the wheel of time keeps going forwards into the future. Even on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog, the gears keeps spinning, and shows no sign of stopping any time soon. As per tradition in recent years, it’s time to take a look at the music of the year before, and see if it still holds up. The first of these two reviews is from a band that is no stranger to this blog. For practically 4 years at this point, the otaku tinged Power Metal band Everfrost have peddled their own unique twist on the genre across their native Finland & various conventions they manage to travel to, and they show no signs of stopping. So, without further delay, here’s my review on their LP Frostbites. Enjoy!

Background
With the release of Winterider back in September of 2019, Everfrost seemingly got a boost in popularity in Finland & it’s convention circuit. Finalizing plans to being touring in those places & beyond, it should come as no surprise that 2020 would come along to screw things up just a few months later, but that wasn’t the only hit to the group. Lead singer Mikael Salo would leave the band to pursue his own musical career, as did Allan C Hasanen & Markus Laito. This resulted in Benji Connelly & Jope "James" Salminen being the only original members left, but that didn’t stop them! After acquiring new guitarists Samuli Heiskanen and Joose Ylianttila, as well as new lead singer Eveliina Tuulia a little later down the road, Everfrost 2.0 was fully formed. Upon entering the studio, the band decided that perhaps anime intro covers were the next thing to work on, and after acquiring a few musical guests (Including Mikael Salo), they put their noses to the grindstone, and on the 11th of November, 2022, the LP known as Frostbites was released!

Basic Description
Bite sized otaku goodness.

Though the smaller size is something of an issue (More on that in a bit), once again Everfrost proved that they aren’t just a gimmick! Yes, they where what inspires them on their sleeve & they have no shame at all, but it’s also obvious that these beautiful Finnish weebs are exceptionally talented as well. Blue Eyed Emotion was great but a bit on the amateur-ish side, while Winterider was a giant boost in quality. Frostbites essentially is everything good about the previously mentioned release, but with all of those finer points smoothed out more for a greater shine. It’s a testament that these guys are able to crank out exceptional release after exceptional release, despite being rather obscure here in the United States.

Best Track
Gotta Catch Em All hits hard! The band treated the iconic opener for Pokemon with a great deal of respect, but still put their own little spin on things. The pacing is basically the same as the original, but it’s the Power Metal coat of paint that really fleshes things out. The guitar & bass especially put in a lot of work, and it was great to hear Mikael Salo sing with Everfrost one final time (Twice if you count the Evangelion cover) before he pursued his own musical aspirations. For anyone from my generation that needs a big blast of nostalgia to the eardrums, then this opening song is for you!

Gotta Catch Em All

Worst Track
Like I said in my top 5 list from last year, Frostbites’s only faults lie with the amount of songs, and I never watched the shows that 3 of the tunes are from. Again, I can brush off that second fault without any issue, but I am still surprised at the fact that there are only 4 songs on here! It is entirely possible that I misread something, but I could have sworn that I saw something about this release being a full-fledged album. If anyone from the band sees this, please clarifying things for me.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this, then click on the link below:

Frostbites

Overall Impression & Rating
Frostbites is a fun little romp. Sure, it goes by quick, and most of the shows it references I’m not massively familiar with, but I easily recognize the effort put into it. Everfrost will always be a fun & quirky group, and it’s releases like this that keep me endeared to them. If you got a little bit of time to kill, then this brief flash of winter weebery is perfect for that!

Frostbites gets a out 9 of 10.

So that was my look at Frostbites. It might go by pretty fast, but the devotion that Everfrost has to what inspires them makes up for this, and it’s a lot of fun! So, my other no. 1 album of 2022 will be covered a little later, but beforehand I got something else to post. See you soon!

Metal Overview: Samael (Part 3)

Happy Halloween fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We’re here! It’s the most wonderful & spooky time of the year! The one time of the year where the realm of monsters & our world become one, and we experience the magic of Halloween Town and all it has to offer. The pumpkins have been lit, the bowls of candy are ready, and the various goblins & wraiths are wandering our streets looking for the sugary treats they crave. Here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog, the spookiest of the metal world really let loose. Over this month, I've looked at the Blackened Industrial masters Samael, and it's been interesting to say the least. Today marks part 3, and thus the end of my examination of these guys. Like I hinted at in my last post, this 3rd phase of the band might very well be the strongest material they've released, but is it as impressive as I made it sound? Well, let's not waste anymore time, and take at look at part 3 of my examination of Samael. Let's begin!

Lux Mundi (2011)

With Above not too far in their rearview mirror, Samael continued to put their creativity to the grindstone. On the 19th of November, 2010, they release Antigod. An EP of 6 songs, it was a mix of remixes of older tracks, as well as live versions of others. After that, they went back into the studio with producer Waldemar Sorychta to record, and sent those recordings off to England to be mixed by Russ Russel. Once the mixing was done, Lux Mundi was released on the 29th of April, 2011. Translated from Latin as Light Of The World, the released marked a shift back to the Industrial Metal/Black Metal balancing, but with a healthy dose of symphonic elements. Whether they’re real or made from a keyboard, it was interesting to see the band approach their past with yet another unique spin, and at the moment it appears as if they’re going to stay this way.

Best Track? The Truth is Marching On almost comes across like a song from Above that wasn’t included on the record. There’s considerably more improved recording & production behind it, and thus it doesn’t feel old in any way. That said, there’s a big Death Metal vibe across the whole thing, but with a symphonic aspect to it, as well as Vorph having clearer vocals when compared to how he sang on the previously mentioned release. Though I was originally considering the opener to be the best thing on here (Luxferre), something about TTIMO just catches me ever so slightly more.

The Truth is Marching On

Worst Track? To be perfectly honest, I don’t think there’s a single band track. Hell, if I want to be really honest, there’s nothing wrong with Lux Mundi! If someone wanted to be picky, they might complain about the symphonic elements & the semi-sporadic usage of said elements, but they have to be exceptionally nitpicky to single that element out from everything else.

Lux Mundi. An absolute monster of an album, it brought the band back to their mid-90s roots, yet it still showed that they were able to trying something a little bit different. If you weren’t a fan of their material from the 2000s, then you might like what on this release. Now, despite Samael coming back more or less as their Passage-era selves, it wouldn’t be until towards the end of the decade that they would put out another record....but none of us weren’t quite ready for what was coming. Next album!

Hegemony (2017)

Released on the 13th of October, 2017, the colossus known as Hegemony was a pretty big change for the band. Earlier in the year in February, Samael had left Nuclear Blast Records, and decided to sign onto Napalm Records. In May of 2017, the band members launched a side project called W.A.R. (Worship and Ritual), in order to perform their first two pure Black Metal albums live. In this side group, the original members adopted their old stage names (Vorphalack and Xytraguptor) and Xy returned to playing drums, with their first two concerts happened in Les Caves du Manoir in Martigny (Switzerland).

After that, the band continued to work on their newest record, and like I said above, put it out in record stores & online sites on the 13th of October in 2017. Hegemony was a bit of a subjective change for Samael, as they abandoned the occult & spiritual themes in order to embrace more social and political ones. According to Vorph in a Metal Hammer interview:

“It is the first time we've been very much connected with the zeitgeist. Somehow today, you cannot do this anymore. The news is already on your phone, it's everywhere. You cannot distance yourself, it's running after you.”

Best Track? Kind of a tie between the asskicking duo of Black Supremacy & Dictate Of Transparency. Both songs share similar beats, rhythms, and even singing patterns coming from Vorph. That’ll definitely be a problem for some, yet the overall quality of both tunes in wonderful in my opinion. It should be noted that Dictate Of Transparency got a music video in April of last year, which is really odd if you ask me, but at the same time perfectly conveys the message of always being watched by systems that may not have the people’s best interest in mind.

Black Supremacy

Dictate Of Transparency

Worst Track? If one was to complain about anything with Hegemony, my guess is that they’ll probably complain about the politics. To give the band credit, they seemingly don’t attack any one side, which is refreshing. Not only that, but what the band is trying to convey is never force fed to listeners, which is also refreshing when compared to output from other bands (Some of who I happen to enjoy). Still, there are politics on Hegemony, and given what the climate is like now as opposed to 2017, that may ruffle some people’s feathers.

Hegemony. A brilliant record that manages to capture what many of us were feeling in 2017, it still manages to entertain in addition to conveying it’s message without being preachy. There might be some who aren’t fond of the album because of that political factor, but those people may be in the minority. If you want to be entertained yet have a message delivered to you respectfully, then look no further than Hegemony!

And that was my final look at Samael. Very obviously on the short side, but it felt right to give these two albums their own post. Hopefully, the band finally starts working on a new record, as I’ve been experiencing the shakes for some new music from them for a while. In any case, I hope you enjoyed today’s post, and see me soon next month for my annual looking back at the previous year’s honorable mention & number 1. Until then, take care, and have a fun & spooky day!


***
If you like to hear these albums, then click on the links below:

Lux Mundi (with Re-Release tracks)

Hegemony

Top 5 Scary Sailor Moon Youma

We’re getting close to Halloween fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

In just a few days, the one time of the year where the realm of the spooks manages to sync up with our world. It’s the one time of the year where ghouls, ghosts, and goblins roam alongside humanity, and whether it’s for tricks or treats.....who is to say?

So, to celebrate this near crossover of dimension, I wanted to cover some beasts and freaks from the realm of Sailor Moon (Like I hinted at last time). Sure, with a lot of the goofy antics of Serena & her friends, it’s sometimes important to remember that the series really did have some creepy bad guys, and I have laid out 5 for you all to see. Some are classics, but I may have a surprise or two in store. So, get your Moon Prism Wand, sink back into your childhood, and enjoy a look at my top 5 scary Sailor Moon Youma. Let’s begin!

5) Oniwabandana (Descriptor)

I gotta admit.....this one’s a little goofy.

The stereotype of the evil ninja has been in most anime for ages. Whether from a good series or a bad series, there’s always a shinobi on the side of the bad guys that shows up eventually. What sets Oniwabandana a little bit apart from the rest is the more magical inclination of her skills: yeah, she fights as a shinobi does with all of the tricks of the trade, but with the added power from Kunzite sets her above many evil ninjas somewhat. So, while I may not find Oniwabandana to be one of the scariest, that doesn’t mean I want to encounter her face to face.

4) Jiji (Descriptor)

Now we’re beginning to get scary!

There’s a reason why Oni are still some of the most popular beings in Japanese mythology. Taking on a wide variety of forms, they all have the ability to wreck havoc in many different ways. Jiji definitely like to give someone a right & proper beating, but there’s a mildly sad side to him when you discover that he was formed from Rei’s grandfather. Even with that said, there’s just something about the Oni mask like face that Jiji has that sends a brief chill up my spine, and I think it did for some of you as well.

3) Morga (Descriptor)

Gotta go with a classic!

The first monster Sailor Moon ever faced, Morga was no slouch. Sure, her appearance makes her out to look like a zombie (with a weird wound between her eyes that makes it look like she was shot there before), but that just hides the surprising amount of power under her control. She can levitate, mind control, stretch out her arms to ridiculous lengths, and even being able to twist her neck 180-degrees. Yeah, she goes down with just one Moon tiara attack, but she definitely gave Serena a run for her money!  

2) Jumou (Descriptor)

If horror games have taught me anything, it’s that you should never trust mannequins or puppets of any kind. Now, Sailor Moon has done that also with this creepy bitch!

For starters, Jumou can hide within other dolls. You can never see her coming, save for when she needs to attack. Secondly, even in her normal form she’s unnerving, as the floating pieces of her body that none the less are connected together with dark magic really add to the overall creepy puppet factor. It’s a good thing that this character wasn’t made into a figure, as I think it would probably leave a lot of little girls scarred!

1) Yasha (Descriptor)

If there’s one thing that’ll always give me the chills, it’s bad guys wearing masks. Sometimes what’s underneath is completely normal.....and then there are times where you wish it stayed on!

Hell, even when she was wearing her mask, Yasha is just creepy. You can’t tell what she’s thinking, as you have to rely completely on what you think she’ll do next. When it’s off however, it’s a completely different ballgame. Perhaps even more demonic than Jiji, this hellspawn’s fury increases, which is funny when you consider that Yasha’s original mission was to spy on Nephrite and grab the Silver Crystal. Despite that, for having such a fearsome visage, and hulking out when the identity is revealed, Yasha gets to the no. 1 spot of this list.

And those were my top 5 scary Sailor Moon Youma. A lot of the time some of the creepiest monsters come from books or games, but we sometimes forget that even Anime has a few scary things lurking in the animated shadows. So, with Halloween day not too far away now, the final look at Samael is incoming.....and they might be the best releases of their career. See you soon!

Metal Overview: Samael (Part 2)

Happy middle of October fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

On the first of this month we took a look at Samael’s time in the 90s, and just last week I released number 7 of my top 5 anime chests for breast cancer awareness. We now return to the blackened Industrial titans, as we now look at their time in the 2000s. Did they continue to have that creative drive like they did in the 90s, and were they able to continue experimenting & evolve? Well, let’s not waste anymore time, and take a look at part 2 of the discography of Samael. Let’s begin!

Reign Of Light (2004)

Released in October of 2004, Samael’s first album in a little over 5 years was recorded and mixed during the summer just a few months prior, and a music video was released a month before the record actually came out. The band would go on to tour Europe, with supporting acts Flowing Tears for the first part, and Dagoba for the Scandinavian dates. Samael later supported Oomph! in Germany. In 2005, the single "On Earth", which featured a cover of "I Feel you" from Depeche Mode, was released. The group would also play summer festivals in Europe and Switzerland later on in 05. In Paleo Festival in Nyon (Switzerland) they played before Rammstein, with four of the songs from that performance ended up on a bonus DVD for a special edition of Reign of Light. When they were in France, the band would receive an award from Hard Rock magazine for best industrial album of the year. After a European tour with Obituary the band finished recording their following album (***).

Best Track? Going for the double-header of Moongate & Heliopolis for this one. Not only were these songs examples of where their Black Metal past was coming back (More on that in a sec), but it was the usage of Middle Eastern/Egyptian instrumentation & sounds in certain places that made them a treat to listen to. It’s not often you hear more exotic drums & other instruments within Heavy Metal, and when you do they’re mostly from more unknown bands within the United States (And possibly the West to a lesser extent). Regardless, definitely two tracks you shouldn’t skip!

Moongate

Heliopolis

Worst Track? Much like Eternal from the end of the 90s, Reign Of Light’s only fault is that it’s too far in the other direction that Samael was traveling. This release is still very much an Industrial & Electronic Metal album, but it’s one where there’s a little more of that Black Metal attitude you’d find on Ceremony Of Opposites & Passage. It’s still not totally back, but the few inches it made back into the band’s subconsciousness.

Reign Of Light. Maybe a little too similar to the album before it, but one where the band’s past came back just a little bit more, potentially signaling another change on the horizon. If you wanted a version of Eternal that maybe had a little more black in it’s veins, then this is a good choice to listen to. Next album!

Solar Soul (2007)

2007's Solar Soul came across as fundamentally more of the same when compared to Reign Of Light & Eternal from 1999 in my opinion. Before it’s release however, Samael were quite the busy band! In March of 2007, they opened for Iggy Pop in Montana (Switzerland) where they would play two new songs for the first time (On the Rise, and Slavocracy). Though it was recorded a year prior, the group got it mixed in Sweden by Stefan Glaumann, and was released on the 1st of June through Nuclear Blast Records worldwide. In July of 07 they played with Nine Inch Nails at Rock Oz'Arenes. After taking a bit of a break, they went back on the road in March of 2008 with Gothminister and Sybreed. During the summer that year, Vorph and Xy went back to Sweden to mix with Frederic Nordström a side project that was recorded a long time ago. After a tour in the United States in September with Amorphis and Virgin Black, the final mastering for said side project was done, and it was decided that it would become the next album for Samael....but I can’t spoil things just yet.

Best Track? Gotta say that I find the title track to be pretty fine. It’s got a nice rhythm, the vocal work isn’t bad, and the Industrial elements are used pretty well if I say so myself. I don’t have much more to say, other than it’s a good way to open up this release.

Solar Soul

Worst Track? Much like Reign of like, Solar Soul’s fault is that it comes across a little too much like Eternal from the decade prior. It’s a little worse this time around, as the mild Black Metal return from Reign Of Light isn’t anywhere to be heard. Well, anywhere I can’t find anyway. Thankfully, the tracklist isn’t filled with anything bad, but it’s a little frustrating when it seems like the band isn’t trying anything new at this point.

Solar Soul. No bad songs like their last album, but it’s missing something due to the small Black Metal aspect of the last release not being around. Not massively recommended, but not exactly a time waster either. So with these last 2 releases, it seemed as if Samael was in a run. However, as the clock made it’s way towards 2009, nobody was quite prepared for what was to come. Next album!

Above (2009)

And here we reach what I consider to be perhaps the most surprising & baffling release in all of Samael’s career. Release on the 6th of March, 2009, Above marks the only time that the band went seemingly full-blown Death Metal, and right away you’re probably wondering why. It sounds pretty far-fetched considering they’ve been maintaining (more or less) a Black Metal/Industrial Metal balancing act. Well.....

Earlier in 2009, Samael would begin promoting a virtual Death Metal band from their Myspace page (Who remembers Myspace?). This virtual band, conveniently called “Above”, would feature computer-designed band members in a virtual world, and the lyrics would just so happen to be written by Samael. A little later on their page, the band said they would be taking their side-project Above and turning it into their newest Samael record. As Vorph would say about Above:

“After 20 years, we've tried to do an album that would represent what SAMAEL is all about and we did 'Solar Soul'. We feel now it is the right time to [remind] the people where we come from and that's exactly what 'Above' will do. It is like an enhanced version of our three or four first albums, maybe the missing link between 'Ceremony of Opposites' and 'Passage'. With the 'Era One' project we've tried to work on different influences; with 'Above' we stripped everything down.”

And yet, despite the Death Metal body they’re operating, Samael didn’t completely forego the Black Metal & Industrial Metal mix, as elements from both sub-genres are still present & accounted for. So in a way, Above is kind of like Passage from the decade before in regards to being a balancing act. Pretty amazing if you ask me!

Best Track? The closer On The Top Of It All is just awesome to me! Like I said above, the whole album maintains a balancing act between 3 different sub-genres, and it’s on this song where I feel that this balancing is the most obvious. The instrumentation is mostly on the Death Metal side of things, but there is some of that Black Metal groove in some places, as well as the kind of heaviness that only Industrial Metal can provide. Even the vocal work from Vorph feels a little more varied that what was heard on the last 2 albums, as it comes across a lot like from when the band was first transitioning styles, but with some of their classic aggression.

On The Top Of It All

Worst Track? While a pleasant surprise to be sure, Above’s only fault is the weird dated feel across the entire album. At first I thought it was just me hearing things, as that’s been a problem for me sometimes. However, it turns out it wasn’t in this case, as this album was originally recorded all the way back in 1999, with it being mixed just a year prior to it’s release in 2008! Some songs do sound a little better than others, but it’s surprising at how dated the package as a whole is.

Above. Apart from the datedness of the sound, I would say that this release is their best from this time. If you’d like to listen to a more balanced release from Samael’s time in the 2000s, then you’ll have a ball with this!

And that was part 2 of my look at Samael. Maybe not their best period by any means, but there’s definitely some quality still lurking around. Their time in the 2000s may not be the most massively desired, but I got a feeling that some of you might like what’s here. With that out of the way, we’re not too far away from the best day of October, but before we get to Halloween day itself, I got a spooky treat for all of you. So, join me next week when we take a look at some of the scariest monster.....of Sailor Moon? See you soon!


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If you’re curious about these albums, then click on the link below:

Reign Of Light

Solar Soul (Includes re-release bonus tracks)

Above

Also, I know I missed Era One. Only did that because they weren’t on the main list on Wikipedia. I might add it in at a later time if any of you are interested.

5 Greatest Anime Chests (For Breast Cancer Awareness) No. 7

Time for some anime chests for Breast Cancer Awareness fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

This year is going to be a little different. No, I don’t think I’ll be moving on from Vtubers, simply because at this point to me they’re just as anime as all of the various series out there. Instead, I wanted to show off Vtubers that have the greatest kegs of nature they were blessed with. Both in real life & on their models, the lovely ladies on this year’s list have some of the biggest chests I’ve ever talked about on these lists, and considering who I’ve shown off in prior years that’s saying something. With that out of the way, here are the top 5 greatest anime chests for Breast Cancer Awareness no. 7. Let’s begin!

5) Obkatiekat (Video/Video 2)

I begin this list with a semi-recent discovery. I first spotted this kitty over on Takahata’s Weary101 show over on Twitch (And on his Weary101 archive over on Youtube) towards the end of 2022, and her spunky Heavy Metal attitude won me over, with her bountiful busom winning me over secondary. So I come to find out that the metallic persuasion wasn’t just a gimmick, as this British chick is not only a hell of a guistarist, but also has a hell of a Heavy Metal growl behind her voice! Obkatiekat works hard when it comes to music, and as fan-servicey as her figure can be, I really appreciate her personality & hard work ethic more if you can believe it.

4) Adora Bunny (Video)

I found out about this Octo-Rabbit (That’s what her model is) thanks to PrismSplay’s Kinkucational episode earlier this year on Lactation & Breastfeeding, and putting my positive feelings on those 2 kinks aside, I found Adora to be a lovely mix of smart & sexy. Not saying that the other women on this list aren’t, because holy crap all of the ladies mentioned here are an even mix of those two extremes, but it’s something about seeing an exceptionally busty bunny woman with octopus tentacles speak about her kink with a surprising amount of eloquence. Her streams on Twitch (No adult streams on Fansly oddly enough) are just fun fan-service filled times where she does a variety of things. Games, video & meme reactions, you name it. If you by any chance haven’t seen her yet, please do so. You’ll have a great time!

3) LeshiVR (Video) 

Sometimes fellow Otaku & Metalheads, we like something sophisticated when it comes to our Vtubers. Sometimes we like it when they’re chill, doing art, or perhaps building a model kit. Other times, we just want a big-breasted cyborg!

LeshiVR was something of an unintentional find for me. I was watching Elara’s channel over on Twitch earlier this year (Much like finding out about Adora Bunny), and it was one of her Tea Time episodes where she brings on a bunch of her Vtuber friends. One of them I remember right away was an exceptionally busty woman in rather form fitting clothes (Kimono I think), and even though it was her 2D model, the amount of jiggle was insane! After that stream, I didn’t think much of it, but it wasn’t until toward the end of last month when I rediscovered her completely by accident. In addition to her Fansly content, she typically plays games & talks with her Twitch audience. Regardless of which medium she’s using, LeshiVR is sure to be exceptionally bouncy!  

2) KyokiKitty (Video)

Sweet baby Jesus did I love this accidental discovery!

To be honest, this was a random thing that just happened to come my way. Whether it was on Youtube, or more risque sites, I don’t remember. What I definitely remember was laying my eyes on an exceptionally busty furry Vtuber, and the sheer amount of jiggle physics she has. On her normal Twitch streams she’s a funny loving cat, and just talks to her audience about stuff. When she’s on her Fansly, that’s where the fun kicks in. Without getting into too much detail, let’s just say that things get a little spicy & breasty if you know what I mean. Yet, for as bountiful as she is, and for as bouncy as this kitty is.....a very familiar Lamia takes the number 1 spot this year.

1) Vexoria (Video)

Some of you might be confused by this one, and I easily understand. I spoke about our grape snake mommy last year, and while I placed her at no. 2 in 2022, I still appreciate how she can balance lewdness & wholesomeness perfectly. So why am I talking about her again in 2023 when I could have easily talked about somebody else who was equally & exceptionally busty? Well.....because she got Breast Cancer.

Around late January to early February of this year, Vexoria tells her audience that the doctors found out that she had Breast Cancer. Stage One Breast Cancer, to be specific. On the one hand, it shook her up pretty good, but on the other hand a month or two later it was found to be early Stage One Breast Cancer. So far so good. However, not long after that her house flooded! For a time she & Zolan (Her husband) moved in with the in-laws till the house got fixed, which thankfully it did. During that time, she had Chemo & radiation therapy, and the two resulted her in becoming a “Bald Queen” in her words. Then, just a few weeks back, she took the big step & got the surgery needed (They managed to save her breast, btw), and these were the first words out of her mouth according to her husband:

“I’m alive, bitches.”

It took a few weeks to come back to her normal schedule, but when she came back all of her fans weren’t prepared for quite the “Holy Shit” moment. If you noticed the picture I used above, and pay really close attention to one of her model’s breasts.....yeah, you’ll see what I mean. Regardless, for surviving a pretty brutal illness (Despite it not being the worst stage), having other awful crap fly into her face, and coming out of it just as shining as before, Vexoria the Sun Eater earns the number 1 spot of this year’s list.

And that was round 7 of my top 5 greatest anime chests for Breast Cancer Awareness month. A little bit of reality finally came into these lists with who was at my no. 1 this year, and maybe that’s the catalyst for some of you to go out & see if there’s a Breast Cancer charity (Outside of Susan G. Coleman) that needs some help. In any case, the spooks continue on everyone, as next week will be part 2 of my look at Samael. See you then!



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If you’re curious about who I talked about in 2022, then click on the link below:

Top 5 Greatest Anime Chests (For Breast Cancer Awareness) No. 6

If you’d also like to see Vexoria’s return (As well as some explanations on what’s gonna happen from here on), click on the link below:

Snexy Snek is back from hiatus! I MISSED YOU! (Twitch)

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Update (10/13/2023, (9: , Easter Standard Time): She beat Cancer everybody!

I Beat Cancer! Let's Gooooo (Twitch)

Metal Overview: Samael (Part 1)

 Happy 1st of October fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Once again, it’s the month of spooks, specters, and candy. The month where the realms of monsters & man becomes the closest they ever will. Once again, it’s the month where I decide to cover a more spooky band to celebrate the occasion, and I decided on a group that nearly a decade after I discovered them, still intrigues me to this day. Taking a sub-genre that I’m a casual fan of, mixing it with a sub-genre I love quite a bit, and the end result is nothing short of oddly unique. They’re definitely something special, and just a little over 30 years since their first release, continue to be a pretty popular act over in Europe & the United States to a lesser extent. So, grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte, slip into some cozy clothes, and enjoy part 1 of my look at the blackened industrial titans known as Samael. Let’s begin!

Worship Him (1991)

Our story begins in April of 1987. Michael Locher, better known as Vorphalack (or Vorph), had been jamming with his friend Pat for some time, but it wasn’t until a year later on the 14th of July, 1998, when his brother Alexandre Locher (Xytraguptor/Xy) joined the band behind the drums that Samael truly took shape. The siblings would record and release a 7-inch EP with two original songs (Into the Pentagram and The Dark) and a cover from Hellhammer (The Third of the Storm). They would play a few shows in Germany, France, Switzerland and Poland, & shortly after enter Taurus Studio in Geneva to record their first album. The band would go on to become a trio when Masmiseîm joined the band on bass, and the new lineup would perform in Poland again. When that tour was done, their first release, Worship Him, was release on the 1st of April, 1991.

Best Track? I don’t always give credit to closing tracks, but I gotta give it up to The Dark as the best song of the album. A purely instrumental track, the drumming, guitar, and bass all create an atmosphere that’s just creepy. Like the noise you might here on a autumn stroll as the sun is setting, it just creeps & creeps until it hits you at just the right time. Definitely a nice release to close out this release.

The Dark

Worst Track? While a nice release to listen to, Worship Him’s biggest fault is the fact that it isn’t that much different from the burgeoning 2nd wave of Black Metal at the very beginning of the 1990s. Many of the beats are the same, as are many of the rhythms, sound effects, etc. This doesn’t mean that Samael is being lazy & just chasing then current trends, but they simultaneously aren’t doing all that much to separate themselves from the rest of the herd.

Worship Him. Not a bad record by any means, but it doesn’t do anything that much different from what Black Metal bands were doing at the time. If you like this sub-genre more on the traditional side of things, Worship Him will easily fulfill that urge. Next album!

Blood Ritual (1992)

Upon the release of Worship Him, their one-record deal with Osmose Productions was done, but beforehand they did a few shows (Which included performing with Napalm Death at one point) to promote it, with the final 2 being in Moscow. After looking for a new record label, they found it in Century Media Records. After that, they would go to work at T&T Studio in Gelsenkirchen (Germany) with producer Waldemar Sorychta, and a month later on the 1st of December, 1992, Blood Ritual was released. Upon it’s release, Samael went on their first European Tour with label mates Unleashed and Tiamat. The 20 days ended at an indoor festival with Fear Factory, Brutal Truth and Agnostic Front alongside other groups.

Best Track? Beyond The Nothingness is an absolute banger of a track! Though there is a little bit of vocal work from Vorph as well as some drums, the star of the show in my opinion is the guitar & bass. They practically command the track, even when the other instrumentation & singing kick in. The two instruments add a cold wind vibe to the tune, and you just feel like something is faintly blowing across your skin as it plays. You don’t quite know where it comes from, but you know that the feeling of frost doesn’t leave for some time.

Beyond The Nothingness

Worst Track? Blood Ritual’s only fault lies with it’s vibe. Like I said earlier, Samael were definitely steering a little bit away from the Black Metal pack of the very early 90s, but they didn’t completely leave the territory. There’s still plenty of moments where it comes across like Worship Him, but they are imbalanced by the tonal shift that Blood Ritual is going through.

Blood Ritual. Though still not completely separating themselves from the pack, it is a step in the right direction. Definitely recommended if you weren’t a fan of Worship Him. However, as the clock ticked to 1994, the band would begin an essential change to their entire career. Next album!

Ceremony Of Opposites (1994)

Recorded & mixed in just 10 days, 1994's Ceremony Of Opposites marked a turning point in Samael’s career. Thanks to the recruitment of Rodolph H, the band now had a keyboard player with them, and they also began experimenting with adding Industrial elements since the style was really emerging at the time. You could hear the voice of Aleister Crowley on Crown, as well as the beginning of "The Hut on the Hen's Legs (Baba Yaga)" of the Pictures at an Exhibition from Modest Mussorgsky in Baphomet's Throne to name just 2 of the samples used.

Best Track? Gotta give it up to the title track for this one. The closer to this release, Ceremony Of Opposites almost comes across like a prototype song you’d hear on their next album. Though still firmly routed in their Black Metal roots, you can hear the keyboards when they’re used, the sampling, and even some symphonic elements piped in at placed. That last aspect the band would explore a few more times down the road, but regardless this tune showed off what the group was turning into, yet they didn’t completely abandon their past.

Ceremony Of Opposites

Worst Track? Like any band transitioning from one sub-genre to another, Ceremony Of Opposites’s only fault is with the fact that it doesn’t have a solid identity. Is this a Black Metal album that’s gone Industrial, or is it an Industrial Metal album with Black Metal routes? I asked these two questions with each & every song I listened to, and I keep asking it after I’ve done listened to the album.

Ceremony Of Opposites. Though not fully realized yet, it none the less marked a massive change in Samael’s career. However, once things transitioned into the year 1996, nobody was quite prepared for what the band was turning into. Next album!

Passage (1996)

And here is the album that got me to fall in love with Samael. Released on the 19th of August, 1996, Passage marked a bigger tonal shift in the band’s career. While Ceremony of Opposites saw them flirting with Industrial Metal, it’s here that they practically embrace it, but they still had a Black Metal mentality behind their music. On top of that, they abandoned the more Satanic subject matter of their prior releases, and instead went with lyrics that were more aligned with the occult and the cosmos. Future releases would push this further both stylistically & lyrically (More on that when I talk about Eternal), but it’s on Passage where it feels like everything is perfectly balanced.

Best Track? Even before I got into the band’s discography, I fell in love with Rain. The track that pulled me into Samael’s circle, it perfectly shows off the dual identity that the group was seemingly embracing at the time. You’ve got the Industrial Metal keyboarding making all kinds of sounds, and there’s also the Black Metal instrumentation & vocal work. It is a little weird to not hear anything remotely Satanic in this tune (Or any other on this album to be honest), but that was never my style of Black Metal, so it doesn’t bother me all that much.

Rain

Worst Track? To be honest, I don’t think there’s a bad song on Passage in it’s entire run time. From the opener with Rain, all the way to the closer that is A Man In Your Head, you’re given a nearly 45-minute experience that won’t go away for a long time. If one wanted to be picky, one would possibly complain that a style they like was mixing with a style they didn’t like, or at the very least they don’t like as much as the other. I sort of fall into that category, as I’m a big Industrial Metal fan, but not the biggest Black Metal fan (Though I have a bit more appreciation for it now than a few years prior). Things would change a few years later.....but I’ll get to that in just a moment.

Passage. An even mix between two opposing metal styles, it’s a testament to Samael’s name at how well both sides come together & make a unique experience. If you’re someone that likes a little bit of Black Metal in your Industrial, or if you like your Industrial Metal with a little bit of Black, then you need to seek this release. Next album!

Eternal (1999)

With the release of Passage in 96, fans of Samael finally felt at ease with the changes the band was implementing. The balance of Black Metal & Industrial Metal seemed to indicate that perhaps the group was going to juggle both subgenres at the same time. However, if there was one thing about these guys one should not ignore, it would be the idea that Samael never rests when it comes to creativity. Released on the 19th of July, 1999, Eternal saw Samael shed their Black Metal roots almost entirely, and sees them almost completely embracing the Industrial Metal aspects they were experimenting with since 1994. Recorded in the same studio that Queen recorded both Innuendo & Made In Heaven (Queen also own the place), and working with rock producer David Richards, the band experimented with a few other things on this release. 1970s like sound & production, and contemporary approaches to the songs (There were elements of Deep Purple on one song, while the other right after it had more on an electronic vibe to it), were just 2 things they tried to do while focusing on the Industrial face of it all.  

Best Track? Though originally I was going to pick the opener Year Zero or Us, it was the song Being that caught me completely off guard. Mainly due to the Jazz-like piano being used at certain points in the song, and the dare-I-say groove-like pacing of the instrumentation. Hell, and some points they even pipe in church-like bells to add to the atmosphere, which makes the tune in general equal parts awesome & bizarre. Do not skip this for any reason!

Being

Worst Track? While there’s no bad track on Eternal in any way, I find that maybe Samael went too far in the other direction when it came to changing their style. While Ceremony Of Opposites was Black Metal dabbling in Industrial, and Passage was a perfect balance between the sub-genres, this album is almost completely in the Industrial Metal zone, but with a hint of a Black Metal attitude.

Eternal. Perhaps going a bit too far in the other musical direction they were going, the album none the less is a fantastic piece of Industrial Metal, and acts as another release that’s more than worthy to help close out the 1990s. If you like to hear metal from the last year of last great decade, then this is definitely up your alley.  

And that was part 1 of my look at Samael. Not only were they born in the 90s, but we saw their evolution into what they would become later down the line. Would the band keep on changing in the new millennium? Find out next time when we get to part 2 of my look at these guys. However, we’ve got an annual Breast Cancer Awareness list next week.....and it might be the most importation one I’ve done yet. See you soon!


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If you’d like to listen to these albums, then click on the links below:

Worship Him

Blood Ritual

Ceremony Of Opposites

Passage

Eternal (Includes 2007 re-release bonus tracks)