Incitatus - I found this the other day, and it's not a bad substitute for the metal box (sadly lacking good comments though): http://metalrunsinmyveins.b…
It's not super broad, it leans a bit to the death/black side of things (albeit not much moreso than LP did), but it still covers other stuff. The dude who writes it…

The funniest part about those pop vs rock comments is when they throw a few token big-name rock bands they clearly don't listen to together with god-awful modern nu-metal/"alternative" rock. Like anyone who thinks Drowning Pool and Creed are the last bastion of real music appreciates Black Sabbath for any reason…

TMBG seems like a fun, literate band with a functional sense of humor, and what I remember about the music itself (which, admittedly, isn't much) is mostly decent. Also, every US history teacher/professor I've ever had thinks James K. Polk is unfairly ignored, and insists on playing the eponymous TMBG song at least…

Actually Chryso, I'm from Montana. It's just that most of my friends are pretty nerdy (as am I), so I have plenty of direct experience with annoying fanboyism. But yeah, Otaku are universally intolerable.

I like Pratchett just fine (Good Omens is one of my favorite books), but hardcore Discworld fans are the most annoying fan subspecies of all time. Discworld is a perfectly cromulent series, but hardcore fans fellatiate all over it in a way that makes literally every other kind of nerd fan look restrained and sensible.…

I think the best place to start would probably be something that draws on plenty of familiar themes and aesthetics without being stereotypically anime (no filler arc, very little fanservice, no chibi-looking cutaway gag bullshit, etc). Something excellent and broad in appeal, like Cowboy Bebop, Berserk or maybe…

I only hate Smashed because in hindsight, I know where everything is going, and I can't help but associate what happens now with those events (yes, I'm one of THOSE fans). The scenes with Buffy and Spike I actually found quite intriguing, and the only thing that I disliked was Willow's night on the town (Which somehow…

Good recommendation Hammer, that run was hilarious. Conversely, if you decide not to play Persona 3 you should totally check out this LP: http://lparchive.org/LetsPl…

I haven't played any Digital Devil Saga games, but of the many JRPGs I have played, Persona 3 and 4 are easily the best. The battle system works well from beginning to end (it manages to be both quite challenging and very fair), and gives plenty of opportunities for customization, but the Social Links are what really…

I don't usually agree with Lobsters1, but the fact that he got Karla Ha Ha to commit suicide (even unintentionally) gives him a lifetime pass in my book. Much like Mitch Hurwitz no longer has. Because this show wasn't very funny.

Initial fuck-up aside, everyone acted responsibly and did the right thing, so we can be grateful for that small blessing. That being said, FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK this sucks. Hopefully LP will get back on top and continue being awesome soon, but I'm really going to miss this feature if it goes away (my guess is it does). I…

GONE SPOILERS

And holy shit, it has two songs based on ASOIAF?! Mind blown, album must be mine!

I've put off getting that solely because I can't stand Robert Jordan (now ASOIAF, that's an album I would buy the fuck out of), but I'm going for it soon. Hopefully it's up there with A Night at the Opera or Nightfall in Middle Earth.

We Are The Nightmare Before Christmas

One thing I really liked that didn't get any mention was Martriden's Encounter the Monolith. Really solid black/death metal concept album that I would personally rank on par with most of the black metal that made the list.

I admit, I could be wrong about them as a gateway band, as I don't really know any fans in real life. I was just extrapolating from my behavior when it comes to new bands. The Sword seems close to most people's comfort zone of metal, but nevertheless overlaps with much more obscure stuff that is easily worth listening…

Hating on the Sword is just messed up. It's not like they're producing execrable, breakdown laden shitfests or something equally intolerable. They're basically the only Doom band of late to break through to the mainstream, and that alone should be encouraged, even if you think they don't deserve it (an opinion I…

You're definitely not the only one who liked it. Not quite top 10 of all time for me, but still an excellent tech death album with plenty of great contrasts between clean, melodic riffing and ultra-brutal drumwork/vocals that made it memorable.

You had me at Sigh
Of course, you also had me at Agalloch, Zoroaster, High on Fire, and pretty much every other band on the list. I would definitely have put Immolation and Atheist on there, but it's your list, and there really has been an obscene amount of great Black Metal lately, so it makes sense that it would…