As a SA convert, I'd love to start a metal thread with some of my favorites. It's hard to encapsulate all of this into a single thread, but I figured I'd get this started and then reply with some of my favorites as I think of them. Feel free to chime in with some of your favorites. Also, no gatekeeping on this thing, because metal means a lot to a lot of people. It's more of an emotion than it is a specific sub-genre of what you would find on Metal Archives or something.

I've been banging my head to Battle Beast lately. Mainly their last three albums:

• Bringer of Pain

• No More Hollywood Endings

• Circus of Doom

It's power metal, some of their biggest hits are Berserk filk, and they're big on synths and Europop hooks but they're fun listening and Noora Louhimo has a big, brassy voice and isn't one of those dime-a-dozen sopranos trying to be the next Tarja Turunen, Sharon Den Adel, Floor Jansen, or Simone Simons.

Thing is, I'm also listening to a bit of Gene Loves Jezebel and The Sisters of Mercy lately, neither of which are necessarily metal. More like "goth rock", though Andrew Eldritch of the latter rejects the "goth" part IIRC. It's a rainy day where I am, so songs like "Sweet Sweet Rain" and "Flood II" are a big mood.

While I'm thinking of it, The Weight of Remembrance by Tribunal is a hell of a debut if you're into doomy/gothy metal in the traditions of My Dying Bride or early Paradise Lost. I want more of Soren Mourne's cello and vocals, that's for sure.

Thanks! Really enjoying Tribunal, getting a lot of Candlemas vibes.

In return I offer Black Pyramid's Black Pyramid, which I'd characterize as a doomier spin on early albums by The Sword.

If you want something a bit out there, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard is a supreme blend of doom/stoner metal with ethereal female vocals, which I think are largely in Welsh?

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