The Gothenburg Project 03.27.09: The Final Countdown

Posted by Matt Shoemaker on 03.27.2009

This week, in the last edition of the Gothenburg Project for a while, I'm taking a look at five melodic death metal albums that everyone should own, as well as accompanying music videos, and a special guest appearance from Buckethead, and, vicariously, through him, the RZA, the GZA, and the rest of the Wu Tang Clan.

Welcome to the final edition of the Gothenburg Project, at least for the time being. It's with a heavy heart that I'm putting the column to rest for the time being to focus on school, as it is that very thing that's been preventing me from truly writing the column I wish I could, the column that I was writing when I first started. For now, at least for the next couple of months, I'm gonna be focusing on album reviews. Mark my words, though, this column will be back.

This week, I'm going try and capture a few albums on here that I never got the chance to cover. In my own little version of 411's own Top 5, I'm going to share with you my top 5 melodic death metal albums (that haven't been covered in this column).

Coming in at number 5 is Children of Bodom's Hatebreeder.

While this album isn't technically melodic death metal, there are a wide range of influences within the band that cross genres left and right. This album, Bodom's second, is joked about by lead singer Alexi Laiho as being "Too black metal for heavy metal fans, and too heavy metal for the black metal fans", and in some senses, he's not too far off. But the melodic aspect of this album, especially songs like "Silent Night, Bodom Night", and "Downfall", are incredible. This album, aside from black metal, is said to draw heavily on power metal, as most of Bodom's album tend to do, but there's something about this album that stands out. The melodic section of "Downfall", coupled with the blinding speed, make for an incredible track. The double bass work on this album is some of the best I've ever heard. Especially on "Silent Night, Bodom Night".

"Silent Night, Bodom Night"


In at number 4, we have Insomnium's Above the Weeping World.

If not for the intro track alone, which sounds absolutely epic, this would be an amazing album. Luckily, the rest is just as solid as the intro. Vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen's voice is raw, powerful, and punishing throughout, and Ville Friman and Ville Vanni, the two guitarists, provide some incredible riffs. One thing to note about this band is the fact that their melodies, unlike many other bands, are much more depressing and sorrowful. When I think melodic death metal, the melodies are usually upbeat, and are essentially used to add energy to a song, but when the melodies are more melancholic and depressing, it adds a whole new dimension to the album.
"Mortal Share"


Coming in at number 3 is a newer album, having only been released last year, but I feel this album is Norther's peak, so their album N gets the 3 spot.

This album, as a whole, feels like the culmination of all of Norther's hard work. With powerful rhythms, beautiful melodies, crushing drums, and raw, aggressive lyrics from Petri Lindroos, who I covered a while back with Ensiferum, this album hits home on so many levels. "My Antichrist", "Frozen Angel" and "Forever and Ever" are, honestly, some of the best work the band has done, and if they can keep this trend going over the next few albums, they'll be at the forefront of the melodic death metal scene before they know it. They've come a very long way from being, what most critics considered, a Children of Bodom ripoff.

"Forever and Ever"


In the runner up spot, Amon Amarth's With Oden On Our Side pops up, easily one of, if not the band's best albums.



When the term Viking metal is mentioned, my first instinct is to think of Amon Amarth. Blasting out Nordic themed songs of war, lore, death, and doom for over 20 years in all, Amon Amarth blends unique themes with blindingly fast, yet surprisingly melodic music. This album is such a solid, addicting album. Between getting caught up in the themes of the songs and headbanging like crazy to just about any track on here (I dare you to try to not headbang to "Cry Of The Blackbirds". It's pretty damn hard).

"Cry of the Blackbirds"


And finally, in the number one spot, we have the pioneers of melodic death metal, At The Gates, with one of the most influential albums in the genre, Slaughter Of The Soul.



Like I said, this is the grand-daddy of all melodic death metal albums. This is also before the genre changed as significantly as it did, which means this album is more along the lines of thrash than what you would hear from In Flames/Soilwork today. I had the honor of seeing At The Gates on the first night of their reunion tour last summer, and it was truly something special. This album is a must own for any metalhead, even if you're not a fan of melodic death metal.

"Blinded By Fear"


OH! I almost forgot about this. It really has nothing to do with anything discussed in this column, but the video is so bizarre and awesome that I can't not share it. I guess this is Buckethead's tribute to ODB and the Wu Tang Clan.



So that's it… for now. I wanna thank everyone who commented and showed me some support over the past 5/6 months, and for helping to make this column what it is. Like I said, I will be back soon, and I'll have something new in store for everyone. So, in the words of Patrick Bateman at the end of American Psycho, "Keep your eyes… open".