Nero

It seems anything this band touches turns to gold. Arguably the second most influential metal band behind Black Sabbath. They havent put out a below average album, In fact aside from their first two punk/crossover thrash albums, everything from Souls at Zero onwards has been outstanding. They created the genre of post-metal, and if it weren't for Neurosis, bands like Isis, Mastodon and Gojira wouldn't exist. Heres some tracks showcasing their brilliance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lurmZamBoo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAyasxPYTHM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO7qCXKW6wQ

Aside from Neurosis, both vocalists Scott Kelly and Steve Von Till have their own solo acoustic folk projects, which have been amazing as well.

Scott Kelly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpVKddJDz94

Steve Von Till

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0KJ942NNk0

MQ: Whats your opinion on Neurosis' influence on the metal scene?. Favorite Neurosis influenced band?

BQ: Scott Kelly or Steve Von Till?

Coffinworm. A new band that emerged recently, released their first album last year. Only just found out about them not that long ago. They play what I guess you could call blackened sludge/doom metal. Heavy sludgy riffs with grating shriek style vocals. Heres a song from the album. Its pretty intense stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD9NsQsL47M

MQ: Thoughts?

BQ: What do you think about blackened sludge? Is the combo good, and what other bands do you like that play a similar style?

Which vocal style do you prefer and why? Personally I enjoy black metal vocals more, they just seem to have much more power and emotion behind them. I feel that sometimes growls can sound a bit bland.

BQ: Favorite vocalist of each style. (Garm and Akerfeldt for me)

Which of these scenes do you like the most and why? Both seem to have their own style of death metal. The Floridian bands seem to focus on technicality while New York death metal is about brutality. In case anyone isnt familiar with where bands come from heres just a top 5 from each scene:

-Florida

Death

Atheist

Cynic

Morbid Angel

Obituary

-New York

Immolation

Incantation

Suffocation

Autopsy

Cannibal Corpse

Personally i'd say that although the Floridian scene started off stronger and remained so for a long time, the New York scene is a lot more consistent and since Death disbanded Florida has been left quite a long way behind in the genre.

BQ: Favorite band from each scene

It was released in 1991 and regarded by many as the very first metalcore album. Those of you only familiar with the modern "melodic" metalcore bands would be very taken back by far different early metalcore used to sound, the early bands sound almost nothing like All That Remains, As I Lay Dying and whatever other modern metalcore band you can name. Metalcore used to be much closer to hardcore punk than metal, unlike today where metalcore bands show hardly any hardcore traits, and are basically just metal with throaty vocals. Heres some tracks from the album

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5taNBxOCvQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXH44pAl5s0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hjH_BB0AyA

MQ: Thoughts?

BQ: How do you feel about how much metalcore has changed, do you prefer the old style or the more metal-influenced modern bands?

Which band do you prefer and why? Personally I prefer Neurosis they are much more consistent

BQ: Favorite song by each band?

For me it would be: Isis - "In Fiction" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sopiG1Qhlh8

Neurosis - "Locust Star" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUddE6Mz3WQ

Why would you need faith if there is conclusive proof?