3 best metal albums ever... with a twist.
Discussion
So, what's your three[1] best metal albums ever... not including anything previously mentioned on the thread!
1. Metallica, Master Of Puppets. The apotheosis of the Hetfield/Hammett/Burton/Ulrich lineup, easily their best album ever, and the one that sounds freshest and most interesting to me, even now - 22 years later. (Just had one of those "fück me, I'm old" moments, there). There's not a single weak song on the album and the traditional last-track-on-side-1 ballad is their besterest ever - "Sanitarium". With material like this, it's a total mystery to me why Metallica are a big bag of bóllocks live.
2. Iron Maiden, Powerslave. Boy's Own Metal. The high point is the opening track, "Aces High". In stark contrast to #1, Ver Maiden can deliver this stuff live. A possible weakness is the behemothic "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner", which doesn't half go on if you're not in the mood. But if you are, there's nowt better.
3. Sepultura, Beneath The Remains. In my opinion, this is the definitive thrash metal album, never equalled, never mind bettered, by Sepultura or anyone else. I'm not really sure what Max is warbling about most of the time, but who gives a monkey's? The riffs are crunching, the solos slicing, and the drummer sounds like he's got eight legs.
1. Metallica, Master Of Puppets. The apotheosis of the Hetfield/Hammett/Burton/Ulrich lineup, easily their best album ever, and the one that sounds freshest and most interesting to me, even now - 22 years later. (Just had one of those "fück me, I'm old" moments, there). There's not a single weak song on the album and the traditional last-track-on-side-1 ballad is their besterest ever - "Sanitarium". With material like this, it's a total mystery to me why Metallica are a big bag of bóllocks live.
2. Iron Maiden, Powerslave. Boy's Own Metal. The high point is the opening track, "Aces High". In stark contrast to #1, Ver Maiden can deliver this stuff live. A possible weakness is the behemothic "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner", which doesn't half go on if you're not in the mood. But if you are, there's nowt better.
3. Sepultura, Beneath The Remains. In my opinion, this is the definitive thrash metal album, never equalled, never mind bettered, by Sepultura or anyone else. I'm not really sure what Max is warbling about most of the time, but who gives a monkey's? The riffs are crunching, the solos slicing, and the drummer sounds like he's got eight legs.
[1]...thou must count to three. Three shall be the number of the counting and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count two, excepting that thou then proceedeth to three. Five is right out.
Edited by CommanderJameson on Saturday 1st November 16:58
Metallica - Ride the Lightning. Some of the best guitar work ever, the title track's solo, the riff of Creeping Death and the twiddly bit on For Whom the Bell Tolls. Then there is Fade to Black, arguably their finest ever work
Judas Priest - Painkiller. Their heaviest effort and one of the most metal metal albums ever made. It's so heavy and metal you could make a battleship from the Cds
Fear Factory - Demanufacture. Groundbreaking work that feels as fresh today as it ever did. Crushingly heavy but with brilliant melodic moments as well. Could make a very good argument for the follow up, Obsolete, as well
Judas Priest - Painkiller. Their heaviest effort and one of the most metal metal albums ever made. It's so heavy and metal you could make a battleship from the Cds
Fear Factory - Demanufacture. Groundbreaking work that feels as fresh today as it ever did. Crushingly heavy but with brilliant melodic moments as well. Could make a very good argument for the follow up, Obsolete, as well
Megadeth- Rust in Peace, every song is great peak at Tornado of Souls Iron Maiden- Killers, Di'Anno's peak imho, with some great songs, Murder in the Rue Morgue, Killers and the brilliant Wrath Child.
Paradise Lost- Symbol of Life, a dark melancholic but ridiculously catchy album from the British doom mongers!
ETA. Just actually read the OP's stipulation's
Paradise Lost- Symbol of Life, a dark melancholic but ridiculously catchy album from the British doom mongers!
ETA. Just actually read the OP's stipulation's
Edited by minimatt1967 on Tuesday 4th November 14:32
Metallica's Garage Inc double is a frantic series of odes to metallic greatness which truly underscores Hetfield & Ulrich's claim to genetic, musical purity. I simply cannot stop playing their Mercyful Fate medley and rendition of Budgie's seminal Breadfan.
Thence back to 1976 and having wept at the rejection of their opus of two years later, settlement is made upon the mound of Rising, Blackmore's Rainbow at it's MkII zenith. Cresendo metal for people who understand the charging of canon.
Finally and quite unable to escape the elfen clutches, ffwd to 1980 and Ronnie James's rendezvous with Messrs Butler, Iommi & Ward. This is music of such scale and grander that had Sabbath been at hand to bolster the ranks on the field of Waterloo, Wellesley & Co wouldn't have just not needed Prussian support but "Boney" would have been sent packing by luncheon.
Thence back to 1976 and having wept at the rejection of their opus of two years later, settlement is made upon the mound of Rising, Blackmore's Rainbow at it's MkII zenith. Cresendo metal for people who understand the charging of canon.
Finally and quite unable to escape the elfen clutches, ffwd to 1980 and Ronnie James's rendezvous with Messrs Butler, Iommi & Ward. This is music of such scale and grander that had Sabbath been at hand to bolster the ranks on the field of Waterloo, Wellesley & Co wouldn't have just not needed Prussian support but "Boney" would have been sent packing by luncheon.
Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss. Reign In Blood might be the fast one but this IMHO is Slayer at showing there is more than 1 string to their bow.
Emperor - Prometheus. Technically awesome and probably still today one of the most mature records produced by anyone in the Black Metal genre. Ihsahn is one of metals's unsung heros. A fitting epitaph to an awesome band.
Neurosis - Through Silver In Blood. This record just sounds massive. The closest thing I have heard to someone capturing the sound of the apocalypse on record many black and death metal bands try and sound big and scary on record and for the most part they miss the mark, but this is genuinely terrifying in places.
Emperor - Prometheus. Technically awesome and probably still today one of the most mature records produced by anyone in the Black Metal genre. Ihsahn is one of metals's unsung heros. A fitting epitaph to an awesome band.
Neurosis - Through Silver In Blood. This record just sounds massive. The closest thing I have heard to someone capturing the sound of the apocalypse on record many black and death metal bands try and sound big and scary on record and for the most part they miss the mark, but this is genuinely terrifying in places.
Edited by JaymzDead on Sunday 2nd November 08:12
Edited by JaymzDead on Sunday 2nd November 08:12
1. Slayer seasons in the abyss (again 
) I agree not as fast as there older stuff but to me that just makes it even heavier. The only album that actualy freaked me out a bit when I first listened to it.
2. Iron Maiden Iron Maiden. Most 1st albums are usualy the best to me and this is no exception.
3. Metallica Metallica (the black album). see no1 slower and more turgid. So it has 2 ballads. So what?
) I agree not as fast as there older stuff but to me that just makes it even heavier. The only album that actualy freaked me out a bit when I first listened to it.2. Iron Maiden Iron Maiden. Most 1st albums are usualy the best to me and this is no exception.
3. Metallica Metallica (the black album). see no1 slower and more turgid. So it has 2 ballads. So what?
So many albums mentioned all ready...
My next 3:
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind - Some of Adrian Smith/Dave Murray's best solos, good singing too!
Metallica - Kill 'em All - Best Debut of all time, great raw guitar sound, Hetfield's riffs
Testament - The Legacy - Such an underrated band, Alex Skolnick's solos are some of the most technical in the genre, heavy too!
My next 3:
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind - Some of Adrian Smith/Dave Murray's best solos, good singing too!
Metallica - Kill 'em All - Best Debut of all time, great raw guitar sound, Hetfield's riffs
Testament - The Legacy - Such an underrated band, Alex Skolnick's solos are some of the most technical in the genre, heavy too!
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