用户Wiki:Demobanker/sandbox4

couldn't think of a list name so i'm just gonna go with the tried and true basic description

For a long time I've been wanting to do a metal genre deep dive list, but held off as I wanted to develop my music writing sense first. Now that I feel more confident I'm giving this idea another shot. As to why I've picked death metal in particular, well, I like extreme metal lmao. But there are also enough circles making this music to make a sizable list (so thrash and black metal are out) without being overwhelming (so power metal is way, way out). Personal taste is also a factor as I'm less motivated if I have to listen to a bunch of music I don't like (which is to say, I could do a djent list, but the fact that I'll need to listen to modern metalcore is a demotivator).

So what counts for this list? I thought about it and decided to overinclude than underinclude for this list, so it will include metal genres that aren't death metal but are highly influenced by it. So early 00s melodic metalcore counts, as it's a specific style of metalcore of that era that uses a lot of melodic death metal riffs, but "melodic metalcore" in the sense of metalcore that's melodic (for example, mainstream metalcore circa 2010 or djentcore with melodic vocals) won't count. Deathcore also count, obviously. Death doom metal also count even though it's more doom metal than death metal.

How do I find circles and releases to put on the list? A lot comes from personal knowledge, but for lesser known circles I defer to the tagging on a certain doujin metal page on VK as I trust their expertise. I also went through RYM charts to find possible releases that I might have missed. With that said, mistags do exist, and I do want to acknowledge them in some way.

So here's my temporary structure for this list, which is split into 3 sides: A-side, which is where everything that follow the above criteria goes to; B-side, which houses mistags and releases that don't fit the main list, but still give important context, either because they have some relevant tracks or are an early release by one of the circles featured; and C-side, which are non-Touhou albums that are influential to circles on this list. With that said, as this is a chronological dive, I'm putting A-side and B-side together. This part isn't final, and since this is in the sandbox stage I might change it if something doesn't work out.

A and B side

トラック情報
Steel of Scarlet (2007-05-20) サークル：MyonMyon B-side ---- Before we get to Pizuya's Cell and MyonMyon's collaborations, we first have to take a look at the two circle's solo works.
トラック情報
Eternal Circle Nine (2007-12-31) サークル：Pizuya's Cell B-side ---- Pizuya outright states on the packaging that "danmaku is melodic death metal" so there was basically no way this wasn't gonna be on the list on way or another. With that said, though, this doesn't really get to it until five tracks in - Sealed history & Night is piano, something Pizuya has always been solid at; Puzzled New Days and Frenzy Moon are both boring midtempo alt metal - it wouldn't be until Violet Lotus Requiem when Pizuya would start making good alt metal. Tropical Trick and Night maze picks up the speed and has some melodeath bits via early 00s melodic metalcore but ends up being mostly one-note metalcore. Now we get to Bloody Flower Connection and Sadistic Dealings, the two melodic metalcore tracks that are relevant to this list. The arrangements are solidly made and dynamic, though it's not something I'd come back to when his collabs with MyonMyon are much better. The Touhou melodies mostly come through the synths, which I think is kind of a lazy way to arrange melodies. Sure, it has the melodies, but in exchange the guitar parts end up sounding lackluster. As much as I dislike super ornate symphonic metal where the guitars are boring and just there for the guitar quota, at least you could enjoy the ornateness on its own. Here there's just a synth, which isn't enough to make me ignore the midtempo chugs or one-note riffs. Taking that into consideration, it shouldn't be surprising that my favorite tracks here are the piano bookends. 4/10
トラック情報
SYMMETRY BURZUM (2008-05-25) サークル：Pizuya's Cell trance metal, early 00s melodic metalcore And here I realize that calling this "early 00s melodic metalcore" doesn't quite work. Sure, the riffs are definitely that, but all the trance synths make it distinctly not that. Look, if you know my music tastes in EDM you know I just do not like trance metal. The overblown, cinematic bass music + alt metal mix that Pizuya started doing on Clair de Lune is much more my thing (and out of scope for this list). If you like this and haven't listened to Blood Stain Child, go listen to that for a much better album. 3/10
トラック情報
The Grimoire Of Alice（同人专辑） (2008-11-02) サークル：Pizuya's Cell, MyonMyon early 00s melodic metalcore/melodic death metal, trance metal (mostly) Separately, the two circles are no strangers to the type of melodic metalcore played on this album. MyonMyon's Steel of Scarlet had it on withered world and the title track, and Pizuya's Eternal Circle Nine had it on Bloody Flower Connection and Sadistic Dealings. The arrangements are solid, but the cheap trance synths detracts a lot from the experience. For some reason, in the first half of the album they're loud and overpower the guitars, but in the second half it gets a bit quieter and lets the guitars through. Still, they did try to keep the instrumentation interesting. Really, just listen to Resurrection Ballad for the better version of this album. It has vocals! 5/10

C-Side

Non-Touhou albums that are influential to circles on this list. I'm not writing listening experiences on these.

• Blood Stain Child - Idolator (2005-08-18; trance metal/melodic death metal)

stuff to add

トラック情報
Gothic（同人专辑） (2007-08-17) サークル：黒夜葬 B-side ----
トラック情報
GODS (2009-03-08) サークル：THOUSAND LEAVES B-side ---- Surprisingly, this is a B-side - Kouta does neoclassical power metal here while 川瀬 is doing whatever janky brand of prog rock he usually does.
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幻想郷から超鋼鉄重低爆音 (2010-08-14) サークル：UNDEAD CORPORATION
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Vermilion Hades (2010-08-14) サークル：Kissing the Mirror
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Experimental Section (2009-10-11) サークル：Stratiotes
トラック情報
Barrage Am Ring 0 (2010-03-14) サークル：Barrage Am Ring
トラック情報
Lightning Discharge (2012-05-27) サークル：CROW'SCLAW This and The Flames of the Inferno are one of the things I got from RYM charts. Pretty surprising as I've always pegged them as a power/heavy metal circle.
トラック情報
Subterranean Sun (2009-12-30) サークル：ELECTRIC RED whoops this suddenly turned into the djent list but not really, as tracks like The Grimoire of Alice does fall under the 00s melodic metalcore/melodeath umbrella.
トラック情報
The Edge Of The Knife (2008-12-29) サークル：BLANKFIELD RYM charts also list the circle's other albums (and the first split with Minstrel) under melodeath which is really funny because this is the only one that fit the list from what I remember (I only like the last two tracks), and the other ones are strictly djent and tech metalcore. even then this is a borderline case as the first half is power metal.
トラック情報
ultima weapon (2010-12-30) サークル：AGENT 0 no XIII because there's still no rips of it