Im having a HORRENDOUS day and it just hits all the spots. Heavy chug chugs, good melody, powerful lyrics with the simple message being "life is a shitstorm but you got this"

Its unbelievably awesome. Anyway whats everyone's pick for best metalcore song you've ever heard?

This Means War is definitely my favorite AA album. Each song is a banger. The Wretched is the first song I ever heard by AA

Super dope band from Montreal, new EP out now🤘

What stands out to you when you listen to a song that you really like? If you had to pick one what is make or break of determining how much you like a song/album? Is it the lyrics, the instruments, the breakdown, etc?

This was on my mind recently and I think what stands out to me is the lyrics. I can enjoy a generic sounding song if the lyrics are meaningful and have more sustenance than “I’m fading away”.

Curious to hear everyone’s opinions.

Day 19 of posting KOG’s entire discography, in chronological order, to celebrate the upcoming 2026 album, Usurper.

The first song that truly showcased how great Dana can sing. That outro had every one hooked. How Dana harmonizes over those beautiful guitars. KOG really hit the nail on the head with this one.

I remember hearing this song when it released and just being so hyped that KOG was nailing big melodies on their first LP as a signed band.

Ground Culture

1. Lion’s Mouth
2. Eternal Burn
3.

Every Wave of Sound

1. ⁠My Compromise
2. ⁠Obstacles
3. ⁠In Focus
4. ⁠Delusionist
5. ⁠Voltage
6. ⁠Hope
7. Broken Ocean
8. Vice Versa
9. Guns and Girls
10. Griever
11. MJ Returns

Abominable

1. ⁠Who I Once Was
2. ⁠A Test Of My Survival
3. ⁠Watch Me
4. ⁠Onslaught
5. ⁠The Overlord
6. ⁠Guns and Girls

The 11 track album from 2013 is called 'Vita Nova', and it was shelved after two of the band members got into an altercation and called it quits before they could get off the ground. Because of this, only 4 of the songs were ever officially released. However, I know the album is fully complete and out there on the internet somewhere, I just don't have access to it. Pretty sure it was posted on *** back in the day but now that's gone. I've seen some people say they were able to get their hands on it from Phil directly if you message him and offer to buy it, which I would totally be willing to do, but his account is private now and he's not accepting my follow request so that's going nowhere... I always liked The Bad Chapter album that he did, and this album that I'm looking for is very similar to me so I would like to have the rest of it. - You can find a version of the whole album that someone posted to youtube but it is terrible quality and that just won't do for me.. If anyone knows where I can find it in good quality or would be willing to share it with me, I would love that very much!

I'm curious everyone's opinions. I'm of the opinion that bands of whatever medium fan-base size and up should have at least one of their classic shirt designs for sale. Maybe a top album cover or something. Maybe I'm not plugged in to how much is moving these days.

But merch is always just the newest album cycle. Which makes sense. But I often look for just a simple shirt or simple hat with the band name. Maybe I'm getting old and don't like the shift that's happened post-covid in both sales trends and design trends. Buying at shows used to be cheaper than online.

I also really miss $20 shirts! But I understand that shirts have become a huge chunk of income since Spotify rekt CD sales. Anyways, what is everyone's latest merch opinions?

Per Davion’s instagram post:

So yeah, VCTMS… A lot to unpack here.

With Mike having said his statement and getting everything out there, I feel a responsibility to myself and one of my best friends to validate his experience with my own, now that I feel safe to.
Before I go any further, I feel I need to give a disclaimer, since there appears to be some confusion about my working relationship with VCTMS based on messages I've received in the past 48 hours.

Although I was on the performing side of the camp, as well as being a part of meet & greets, signings etc. I was never a member of the band. I had no power in any decision-making or any sway in how the band operated. I was a crew member, hired by the band to do a job, which in my case was touring bassist and tech for the band. Operating their playback and monitoring rig for over 2 years until the start of this most recent tour

Around two months ago, I made a statement that i was stepping away from touring. Although the reasons I stated for stepping away were all true, I intentionally left out a key reason I felt the way I did. I made that decision because I also could not continue to navigate the difficulties of working for someone like Meredith.

I, too, witnessed her do all the same things Mike listed in his post. Many of which, towards me. During my time working for VCTMS, I was subject to many instances of verbal abuse, yelling, insults and in one case, even physical aggression from Meredith. That instance being screamed at and having the van keys thrown at my face, breaking skin on my hand trying to block them from striking me. Simply for asking for them to grab more equipment and personal belongings to do to my job. Her justification being she was "having a bad day" and I had dared ask her for something while she was handling something on her phone.

This happened in the middle of the venue, in front of members in the camp, venue staff and multiple crew for the other bands traveling with us. Everyone in the camp had to rally behind me to get her to apologize, which came via text the next day. Only to be met with another instance of unprompted attitude and disrespect days later. Rinse, repeat.

This was a loop. It felt like walking on eggshells 6 weeks at a time. Not knowing what side of her I was going to have to work for that day. In cases where she could clearly tell I was at my breaking point, I was met with brief moments of generosity and lengthy texts or verbal statements of admiration for my work and efforts for the band, only to inevitably start back at the beginning of the rollercoaster again.

While I don't feel at liberty to touch on some details of the business side between band members, as I was hired as crew. I will say on my end, I found it difficult many times to get basic necessities or even feed myself on tour, due to Meredith's negligence and lack of care in paying crew members on time. When confronting her about this, many times it was met with attitude, or being outright ignored about it for days at a time. All while watching Meredith spending money on luxuries, sporting events on off days, flying her friends out to travel with us, etc.
When you are in a cramped vehicle, with more than 5+ people, in a different city every day, away from home and your loved ones, it is incredibly important to keep the peace. But it is also incredibly dire to be paid on time. To be able to afford food, hygiene products etc. Things add up.

"Why did you continue working with VCTMS for so long if it was this bad?" Well, there are a couple of reasons.

My offer to tour with VCTMS came at the same time as my band's indefinite hiatus from touring, but stopping touring was the last thing I wanted to do. While I quickly realized in my first tour with VCTMS that I was in a very negative and unhealthy environment, I held out in hopes that through still working hard for the band and networking, I would eventually be met with a better opportunity. But that opportunity never came.

I also didn't leave sooner out of fear. As mike stated, crew was a revolving door, with many of said crew leaving due to being no longer willing to deal with Meredith's behavior. This would sometimes be met with retaliation by Meredith. In some cases, frivolously badmouthing and talking down about past crew members to others in the industry and people close to said crew members on the tour directly after their departure. Even to the new crew members replacing them, potentially ruining future work opportunities.

"Why didn't you speak out publicly sooner?" Same reason, fear of retaliation.
For me, things came to the same conclusion. After 2 years, I just couldn't deal with it anymore. I'm so thankful to have met all the wonderful people from around the world that I did in my time touring with VCTMS, but my experience with Meredith has effectively ruined my outlook on touring.

I'm so proud of Mike for saying what I felt I could not.

One last thing. There is a lot of unnecessary and unwarranted nastiness surrounding this situation in comments and DM's to people involved. Insults, hateful and sexist remarks towards anybody surrounding this is just not okay. Mike's statement, as well as mine is about accountability and change. If you're just going to comment disgusting insults, whether it's on our posts, or an article, you have your own self-reflecting to do. Do better.

u/sock_with_a_ticket isn't here this week so...

Drop us your Topster, 5x5, Stats.fm or other visual representations of your last 7 days' listening.

The hope is that this generates discussion, so have a look at what others post and maybe drop a comment or two.

This is a Danish metalcore/melodic death metal/thrash metal band. I have yet to explore other songs but this song is the right kind of loud. Maximum volume. Low energy annihilator.

The vocalist actually gets louder as the song progresses which I'm sure doesn't seem possible.

They have 3 albums. Let me know what you think. I had completely forgotten about this song.

Lyrics:

Screaming at the walls

I empty it all

My lungs collapse as I gasp out my last words

Look at life from another angle I scream

My body drops, my face scatters on the floor while I scream:

Look at life from another angle - You cry:

Why all this poverty? WRONG!

ITS: who needs all this poverty? I´ve got it:

The noveau rich minority - it´s the scarecrow they need to motivate

You ask: how come I can´t achieve the things I want?

You ask: why can´t I fulfill the dreams I have?

YOU SHOULD ASK: why do I want these things?

And why do I have this dreams? You´ll see..

.It truly aint yours

Subconsciously emerged

Searching your soul - petrified

As sorrow darkens your life

Searching your soul - petrified

You ask: Why is my whole existence patronizing me?

WRONG

its: Why do you feel that your existence is patronizing you?

YOU CRY:

My deeds aint got the intended affect - on my life

No its: why do wrong things and expect the opposite effect

You don´t realize what you invest in life quite precisely determines what you get from life

But you´re blinded by the tears, hate, grieve or even love

in your eyes

I even see love in your eyes

These dreams truly aint yours

Subconsciously emerged

The aim is to keep you struggling

And that´s why you´ll never succeed

Searching your soul - petrified

As sorrow darkens your life

Searching your soul - petrified

This is seven deadly songs of your mind.

SEVEN DEADLY SONGS - THE WHOLE WORLD JOINS IN

Now you all chant along:

1. Life is unfair

2. I´m a powerless victim

3. I am independent

4. My thoughts have no coherence with the state of affairs

5. control my possessions - not the other way around

6. Life is meaningless

7. Life is more than you make of it

These dreams truly aint yours

Subconsciously emerged

Searching your soul - petrified

As sorrow darkens your life

Searching your soul - petrified

This seven deadly songs of your mind.