Metal Heads Assemble!!

[GSZX1337]

Specific bands are still fun, but I see myself moving more towards slightly lighter stuff.
...
I'm also interested in getting into Doom and Sludge metal, but have little idea where to start.

Doom and Sludge are definitely not light stuff. Check out Celtic Frost's final album Monotheist to see what I mean. Pentagram have got some real heavy shit, too. They're debut album is pretty crushing for an eighties album and Review Your Choices smashed too. I don't know much about Sludge, though.

Doom metal is pretty diverse. I recommend starting with the "big three" British bands of the 1990s - Anathema, My Dying Bride, and Paradise Lost.

Death/Doom is a great transition from Death Metal to Doom Metal.

[Forlorn Drifter]

Specific bands are still fun, but I see myself moving more towards slightly lighter stuff.
...
I'm also interested in getting into Doom and Sludge metal, but have little idea where to start.

Doom and Sludge are definitely not light stuff. Check out Celtic Frost's final album Monotheist to see what I mean. Pentagram have got some real heavy shit, too. They're debut album is pretty crushing for an eighties album and Review Your Choices smashed too. I don't know much about Sludge, though.

Bad word choice there. I meant that I was moving towards more melodic metal, or something with a bit more of a tune. I prefer being able to recognize the band and song whenever possible. Occasionally hard seeing how many things are starting to sound like white noise in an attempt to be "technical" or "even harder".

Sludge seems like something I'll just have to get into on my own. Go spend a couple months in Naw'lens (New Orleans) or something. I'm not that far off, I'll figure it out.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I was wondering if there was a Metal thread on here.

I listen to mostly Black, but I'm very picky.

Here's two of my favorite songs from two of my favorite bands:

Alatyr: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9wCif2sf4U

Adversus Semita: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6fww-Gm3uw

If anyone knows any bands that play similarly, I'd love to hear about it!

Man that's some obscure stuff - how do you even find bands like this?

I dig the first track - pagan black metal with tasteful keyboards. Reminds me somewhat of Nagelfar, one of my favorite BM bands:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb9I-oLJ8Z0

That second track sounds like solid archetypal Norwegian black metal to me. Reminds me somewhat of the classic 1990s bands.

Most of the metal I listen to is either black metal or death/doom and funeral doom.

[Octopod]

Sludge seems like something I'll just have to get into on my own. Go spend a couple months in Naw'lens (New Orleans) or something. I'm not that far off, I'll figure it out.

I'm assuming you are already familiar with Eyehategod? You could check out Weedeater and Dystopia.

[GSZX1337]

I saw Weedeater in concert and liked them. Some other Sludge bands I saw are Sourvein, Beast in the Field, Cough, and Black Tusk. I don't know much about them, but Sludge bands (so far) always have fun concerts.

[Snowman Death Droid]

Man that's some obscure stuff - how do you even find bands like this?

I find all my music by browsing here: http://www.metal-archives.com/ or on its forum: http://www.metal-archives.com/board/

Most of the metal I listen to is either black metal or death/doom and funeral doom.

I think we are going to get along perfectly!

I've been trying to get into Funeral Doom. I don't know where to start though. I'm sure you could help me out.

EDIT: and that was an interesting song you posted, felt very grandiose.

[Forlorn Drifter]

Sludge seems like something I'll just have to get into on my own. Go spend a couple months in Naw'lens (New Orleans) or something. I'm not that far off, I'll figure it out.

I'm assuming you are already familiar with Eyehategod? You could check out Weedeater and Dystopia.

Not a fan of Eyehategod really, but I'll look into others.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I think we are going to get along perfectly!

I've been trying to get into Funeral Doom. I don't know where to start though. I'm sure you could help me out.

EDIT: and that was an interesting song you posted, felt very grandiose.

I use the Metal Archives pretty frequently... I lurk in the forums, but rarely post. Those threads can get intense pretty fast, haha.

If you want to get into funeral doom you should really begin with the original masters - Thergothon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcmLjvTkjC0

and Skepticism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btnAEw9zz7Y

Though if you've explored the genre at all I'm sure you've already run into those two bands.

[Snowman Death Droid]

Snip snap

The first chord of that Thergothon song cracked my spine. But after clicking around Youtube and MA, I don't think I like Scepticism or Thergothon. It'll probably take me some time to get into FD. I did find one band that I do like (even if, like most of the bands I listen to, I can't pronounce their name)

Arcana Coelestia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4gbo_xrgNI

They don't quite sound like Thergothon, or Unholy, or Scepticism, but MA has them labelled as Funeral Doom, so it's good enough for me.

I do appreciate the recommendations!

[Lone Wanderer]

Anyone heard of Septicflesh? I've been listening to them an awful lot lately. They're a symphonic metal band.