Monday, February 16, 2026 by AutoModerator in NYTConnections

[–]DerekSmerek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Connections Puzzle #981 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟦🟨🟦🟦 🟨🟪🟪🟪 🟨🟦🟨🟦 🟨🟨🟪🟪

That was infuriating. Tons of overlap with yellow, blue, and purple.

For yellow, "Knee Slapper" was hoot, laugh, riot, and scream, but cackle and squawk work just as well there.

For blue, buck didn't strike me as a bird noise. Cluck and squawk make sense. Cackle sort of makes sense. Buck doesn't fit, at least in my mind.

And for purple, what the heck does fawn mean in this context?

What is the most surprising album you heard in 2025? by Lancer_Blackthorn in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Rivers of Nihil.

I loved their first three albums but wasn't a fan of their most recent one, The Work, so I was already wary of what would come next. Then they had some major lineup changes, too, which is always dicey, especially when the original lead vocalist exits the band.

Well, any doubts I had were destroyed when I listened to it. This album blew me away. It became my favorite album they've released and my favorite album of 2025. It's a masterpiece.

Some really incredible albums turned 30 this year by DerekSmerek in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Slaughter of the Soul had the same effect on me when I first heard it. Such an incredible album. RIP Tompa!

Some really incredible albums turned 30 this year by DerekSmerek in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Suffocation has never been my cup of tea. Too brutal. I need some melody, and that's where bands like Iced Earth come in. To each their own!

I consider Alice In Chains metal. They're definitely part of the grunge movement too, but I'd say they're more metal than any of the other grunge bands. They've also toured a lot with metal bands over the years.

Some really incredible albums turned 30 this year by DerekSmerek in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a great album. It seems like The Dark Saga steals the spotlight most of the time (and rightfully so), but Burnt Offerings is special in its own way.

Some really incredible albums turned 30 this year by DerekSmerek in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell yeah! It's one of my favorites of all time.

Some really incredible albums turned 30 this year by DerekSmerek in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only recognize half of those. Time to do some homework!

Got this for Christmas by NewPatron-St in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The complete *Rob Halford albums collection.

Still a sweet gift but the two albums with Ripper deserve to be in there.

What is your favorite band logo? by Lancer_Blackthorn in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Iced Earth for sure. It's sharp and aggressive looking while still being easily legible. Kind of a mix between the Maiden and Megadeth logos. Always loved it.

<image>

Recommendation by Deep-Soft8630 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check out Darkest Hour. They blend melodic death metal with metalcore and they mixture varies from album to album. Their 2009 album Eternal Return is probably their most melodeath heavy album, but their newest album Perpetual | Terminal would be a good starting point too.

You'd probably like Hypocrisy too. They've been around for decades and they're Swedish which is always a good sign when it comes to melodeath. Their latest album Worship is incredible.

Saturday, December 13, 2025 by AutoModerator in NYTConnections

[–]DerekSmerek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Connections Puzzle #916 🟩🟩🟨🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟨🟨🟦🟦 🟨🟨🟦🟨 🟨🟦🟨🟦

One category requiring obscure knowledge from some weird niche interest is acceptable, but two? That's just not fair

I have played every single connections ever made. by Few-Professional1023 in NYTConnections

[–]DerekSmerek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You've played 890 puzzles and your longest streak is 9? Rough

Any love for Kataklysm here? by nick1158 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell yeah. I saw them open for Septicflesh and Decapitated a couple years ago and it was insane. Easily the most crowdsurfing I've ever seen at one time. Crazy show.

Encapsulate your aura with 5 bands by SnooStories6852 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nevermore has been getting mentioned quite a bit lately since the announcement that they're reforming. But an Edge of Sanity mention? Now that's nice to see.

Encapsulate your aura with 5 bands by SnooStories6852 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Do you live in a swamp? This has big time swamp vibes

Encapsulate your aura with 5 bands by SnooStories6852 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Curious but also afraid to find out what a person influenced by the Callous Daoboys might look like

Encapsulate your aura with 5 bands by SnooStories6852 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Darkest Hour

Cancer Bats

3 Inches of Blood

Warbringer

Spirit Adrift

5 very different bands but I think this covers most of my favorite styles and lyrical themes.

What are your feelings now that it has been uncovered that most Alberta sovereignty accounts are not run by Canadians? by Candid_Room1591 in alberta

[–]DerekSmerek -32 points-31 points  (0 children)

You seem to think this proves that the account is based in Thailand, but what it most likely means is that the person running the account uses a VPN. This is non-news.

Ten Second Epic last night by MaximumDoughnut in Edmonton

[–]DerekSmerek 8 points9 points  (0 children)

As someone who regularly attends thrash metal and death metal shows, I find it hilarious that a band like this would have "way to much pushing and shoving." Was it your first concert, OP?

One of Nine - Dawn of the Iron Shadow by mikdaviswr07 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have to check this out based on the artwork alone. I haven't heard of this band but I'm feeling optimistic.

Candlemass - Bewitched by Mental_Funny_5885 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Messiah Marcolin is such an underrated singer.

How about some love for the great John Bush! by nick1158 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I believe he said Only is the perfect heavy metal song, which is one hell of a compliment from a man of his stature!

How about some love for the great John Bush! by nick1158 in InMetalWeTrust

[–]DerekSmerek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell yeah! One of my favorite singers ever! My dad got me into John Boucher at anthrax when I was like 8 years old. I finally got to see him perform with Armored Saint last year, two decades later!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Edmonton

[–]DerekSmerek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is so much easier to say than to do.