11 albums in, we are 10 albums past the point of letting freedom ring with a shotgun blast. We do know we are into some big, dumb metal for the masses. To their credit, I think Gojira's more mainstream shift was due to the band being influenced by these guys, and if there is any justice in the world, these guys would be just a big as Gojira or Lamb of God. The opening track is pretty much dense nu-metal, which has some shredding mixed in to their post-thrash persona. There is a more solid head bobbing groove to " Unbound". I am halfway into this song when I realize that this was the first single from this album I checked out, but it works better than the context of this album. I guess I am braced for it.
"Outsider' is more melodic. If you asked AI to write a metal song that was radio-appropriate, I would think this is close to what might come out. It's heavy enough to make you feel like you are listening to metal. But colored with slick production. I am also into Spirit Box, who might have made an overproduced album, but still worked. And for some of these songs it works, 'Not Long For This World" being one of those moments. When they try to go harder than who they are in the present day reality, it might be at times awkward, like their more Slipknot homage that is "These Scars Won't Define Us". It could be argued these guys were doing nu-metal before Slipknot, but they were not doing it like this.
I got excited for the darker sounds going into 'Duskmaker', but it's just an interlude. "Bonescraper," which follows it is more of a nu-metal anthem. It is also pretty radio-friendly. "Addicted to Pain" is another that follows Slipknot's formula perhaps too closely for my tastes. "Bleeding Me Dry" is a respectable willingness to experiment, though I am not sure if the execution is perfect, however, it may just be the production choices. They try to remember back when they were thrashers on "Shards of Shattered Dreams," but they are too close to Slipknot's zip code with the big radio chorus to get there. I am not sure why they needed to end the album with a power ballad, but that is where we are. I will give this album an 8.5, about on par with the last one. They are good at what they are doing and if you like big dumb mainstream metal, then this is for you. Not my thing, but I can listen to it subjectively enough and enjoy some of the songs along the way.
Forty years later, it's time to take a look and honestly assess what were the ten greatest metal albums from 1984. This is not being weighed on album sales, as some of these did not fare that well upon their release but gained ground over time. All of these have stood the test of time, but some are better than others, which is why the number one album is where it sits, and number ten is where it is. The ranking is based on two main factors I was listening to them back when they were released, the impact they had when I heard them, and how well they have stood the test of time for the past forty years. Unlike lists I make today where it;s based more on how much I listened to them over the year, the results here are more cumulative, though the album I listened to the most in 1984 is on here.
10-The Melvins - "Stoner Witch"
Notorious for being a band that does not like being defined. If there was an album that was going to define them it would be their 1994 classic. It is drenched and experimental in its weighty lumber, but, still has almost Kiss-like grooves giving the song ample swagger.
9-Machine Head- "Burn My Eyes"
They took thrash and gave it the 90s grooves it needed to survive the grunge era. Pummelling and catchy, in how they make freedom ring with a shotgun blast. The drumming is off the charts. Some songs are more bangers than others but this album held up over the years.
8-Emperor- "In the Nightside Eclipse"
This album introduced me to the second wave of black metal from the 90s. There was more orchestrated melody, than the more punk-sounding lo-fi blast fest that Darkthrone was dishing out at the time, and even in Europe bands like this were relegated to the backs of metal magazines. Not the band's best album but it sets the stage for what is to come while doing something more convincingly Satanic than what death metal bands were doing.
7-Tiamat- "Wildhoney
No longer just a death metal band this album is influenced by both Pink Floyd and Feilds of the Nephilim. It was ahead of its time. Listening back to it, you can hear where some of the production holds it back though this has aged well and gives the album charm.
6-Testament -"Low"
An underrated album by an underrated band. James Murphy had big shoes to fill when he stepped in and he brought a heavier sensibility to things, as well as Tempesta's playing dialing it in. Chuck Billy's voice sounds great and they managed to stay relevant past the 90s which is better than most of their peers were doing at this time.
5-Pantera - "Far Beyond Driven"
When this album came out I did not like it as much as "Cowboys" or "Vulgar", it's not as melodic and Phil's vocal delivery is more one-dimensional in comparison. It's heavy as all hell sure. The guitar playing is what grew on me over the years to hear how well-written this album is. This album is all Vinne and Dimebag.With Phil only shining on songs like "Becoming'. It holds up over time.
4- Korn -"s/t"
This album changed the game. It's taking the number 4 spot as it did not age as well as the top three albums. They brought groove up from the underground scene, when this album came out they were touching with Sick of It All in small punk clubs. They were onto something different. However this album just sounds like 1994 where the top 3 are more timeless, but this is still a great album, regardless of what this band turned into.
3-Kyuss- Welcome to Sky Valley
The top 3 albums are all great in their own right. This is almost just grooving fuzzed-out rock, it does not feel like metal until it's turned up loud enough. But by 1994's standards and underlying tension of the bass lines it qualifies and went on to influence the entire stoner metal genre.
2-Cannibal Corpse- "The Bleeding"
The best death metal album from one of the genre's best bands, perhaps the most defining of the current sound of death metal. The only reason it is not number one, is because the album in the number one spot might not be as heavy, but they are more dynamic, and melodic, and wrote two of the best metal albums of all time, so it's a close call be here we are, that does not take away from how great this album. The number one death metal album of 1994 for sure.
1-Acid Bath - "When the Kite String Pops"
Swampy sludge metal would be an oversimplification as so many other elements are in play. dark and ominous, songs like "Dope Feind" have real menace as they are coming from a genuine place. The interplay of harsh to-sung vocals is great and there is not a band that ever did that sort of thing better. The songs have stood the test of time better than any other album on this list. Sure they can get some semblance of the band back together thirty years later ,, but it will never be what happened here in 1994.
If you were wondering how much of Slayer was Kerry King, the question is about to be answered. The band had been plugging along without Jeff. Jeff played a role in their writing process, so it depends on what side of the band you hope to hear. Mark from Death Angel is handling the vocals, 'Diablo" is more of an intro, making "Where I Reign" the opening track. It sounds like the song could have been off "God Hates Us All". It is fast and has the kind of aggression that Slayer were perfectors of. King's solos are more melodic and less chaotic in the first song. "Residue" is more deliberate. I am not sure what side of the story the narrative of the lyrics sits on. Mark gives his most gutsy performance yet. It also reminds me a little of "Diabolis in Musica". Once again 90s Slayer is being mentioned and not their classic 80s sound.
"Idle Hands" carries a pretty powerful chug. Once again "God Hates Us All" comes to mind. Paul Bostaph certainly helps things sound like Slayer. The sense of groove on "Trophies of the Tyrant" is the song's strength. There is melodic nuance they flesh it out in the best way possible. When they pour on the speed for 'Crucifixation" the results are not as impressive. There is a cool riff that comes in midway into the song, but the rule here is "cool riffs alone do not a good song make". The throb the builds on "Tension" lives up to the song's name. "Everything I Hate About You" runs more of a full-throttle hard-core thrashing. In contrast, the riff that drives "Toxic" sounds like a classic Slayer riff. "Two Fists' has a more undisputed attitude to it. I always thought King was more the Judas Priest guy and Jeff was the punk side, but I guess we are hearing otherwise.
"Rage" leans into a more speed-laced fury. It's hyper-thrashing, which lends itself more to songwriting rather than if these were just blast beats. The more deliberate palm-muted chug of "Shrapnel" feels like things are at their most effective. Bostaph helps sell the last song. It finds them returning to that more "God Hates Us All" "-like place. Thow his album shows how large of a role King played in Slayer it might not have had any of the serial killer love songs, which were my favorite moments from the band but it does carry a great deal about what made the band great so I will give this album a 9, and see how it grows on me.
I prefer when they were letting freedom ring with a shotgun blast and not really into their forays into nu-metal that followed. They began integrating actual metal, which you can hear on this album though diluted with aspirations to get the airplay of modern rock bands. The ten-minute opener has some cool melodic moments before roaring into what they have been doing now for decades. Flynn is the sole original member; he is still joined by Jared of Sanctity and Waclaw of Decapitated. In terms of heaviness there is no way this album comes close to the new Decapitated, they do go full steam thrash on the second song, but I think I prefer the more thoughtful opener as even more all the aggression of the second song, it feels more contrived.
"Become the Firestorm" proves it pays off to have guys who use to play in death metal bands in your band as it makes you capable of being able to step the gas as needed. They summon a powerful that is more in line with what Flynn normally does here as well. Iam ignoring all the Operation Mindcrime like interludes, they just do not add anything to the album. "My Hands are Empty" works pretty well with its melodic shift in the dynamic hooks of the chorus. It is clear Flynn is a great songwriter, as he has kept his career going on it after all these years. That does not mean he manages to avoid of the pitfalls o when harder music hit the radio in the 90s as there is a Slipknotty feel to "Un hallowed". I like melodramatic music, but not the kind that gets endorsed by energy drinks.
"Kill Thy Enemies" is pretty convincing with its mean guitar, the lyrics sound like Flynn has been on social media for too long. The find a decent balance of heaviness and melody on "No Gods No Masters" though the chorus is a little overboard. "Bloodshot" is the first song that feels like filler to me. Sounds like microwaveable Pantera. The drumming on it is impressive, but when you are a metal drummer that is expected. "Rotten" does something similar better. If you need that kind of mosh inspiring metal, there it is.
"Arrows in Words from the Sky' is one of those radio power ballads that has the blazing guitar solo and, in their case, heavy enough to be metal, but lacks the needed, the vocals are pretty great, and this album has good vocal production almost across the board, there moments in the mix some of the secondary vocals could come up. They included an acoustic version on this album to, but that seems redundant. The last song seems like it sets out to be a summary of all their metal tricks. Considering how the vocals have been this album's strength, I do not think solos alone warrant the need for an instrumental. I will round this down to a 8.5, in the struggle for relevance they do not always play to what best suits them as band, but overall, the song writing of Flynn redeems the album.
Continuing out countdown of what is the most influential sub-genre of metal . It opened the door for bands to play louder, harder and faster thus spawning Death metal, black metal, grind core etc.. yeah doom stayed on it's own path. The bands that came out of it are now considered the biggest bands in metal...I mean Metallica and Slayer, come one end of debate. Normally I try to limit it to one album per artist. There are some artists that had much more of an impact so they might get another entry or two. There is thrash ranging from proto-death metal to hard core to power metal bands that evolved with the times. I grew up during the rise of thrash and listened to it through out highschool so some of this is determined by which albums did I listen to the most as they came out and which have endured the test of time. Lets face it none of your Toxic Holocausts or Revocations can touch these bands. They are pretty much tribute bands in comparison.
40- Riot-" the Privledge of Power" 1990
There is still plenty of their more classic metal sound on this album, but the cover of Al Dimeola's "Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway" cements their place on this list. It might be the most power metal album on this list, but when they lay on the speed it proves why they are here.
39- Fates Warning- "No Exit" - 1988
These guys shed some of the classic prog metal leaning for this more in your face release.
The lyrics to this album go beyond the normal metal malarky. Technical yet groove riffs from a under rated band.
37-Forbidden- "Twisted into Form" -1990
Blended classic metal influences with catchy foreward thinking thrash.
36-Prong -"Beg to Differ"1990
These groove monsters were my first indication that metal was changing .
35-S.O.D-"Speak English or Die" 1985
When I listen to this album now I often think , what would happen if this album came out today. It gives a middle finger to everything, which is just what kids today need to hear so they are not such pussies.
34- Angkor Wat - "When Obscurity Becomes the Norm" 1989
1989
When this album came out the world was not ready for this band.
33-Dark Angel -"Leave Scars" 1989
"Darkness Descends" might be the album the so called metal purists might want here, but they do not know shit because the songs on this one are better.
32- Machine Head- "Burn My Eyes" 1994
1994 Yeah tis band would eventually turn into shitty nu-metal, but how can you not sing along to the cry of " Let Freedom ring with a shotgun blast"
31- Diamond Head - "Behold the Beginning" 1980
Metallica really ripped these guys off . I mean you do not need "Kill'em All" on here since this album is where it came from . This might be the first thrash album, even though by today's standards it is rock n roll.
While they are not letting freedom ring with a shot gun blast, the first song is aggressive enough to almost work though on the second listen it seemed like they were angry in the same way Slipknot is angry. If you think that is a good thing then we are going to have differing views on what we want out of this album. There is a more melodic touch to the title track that follows. Where I liked the opener less the second listen, I like this song more. The nu-metal is still being kept live on "Beyond the Pale". The more shouted tough guy vocals don't work as well for me. If he was going at it as rough as he did on the first album then I might be alright with it. Its the way the vocal phrasing accents some of the punches that really reminds me of Slipknot again.
The Slipknot touches to "California Bleeding" actually work, though the song benefits from having really good lyrics. That goes a long way with me. The rapping on "Triple Beam" sounds like it's from a time warp into the late 90s. Though if you are fine with it taking you back to that drugged out place in time, then it does have some value. Though it talks about meth, when the rap use of the phrase is talking about weighing out coke. So I guess pick your poison. Drugs do seem to be the prevailing theme of this album. "Kaleidoscope" is a little too early 2000s in the way it tries to blend a more Drowning Pool like vocal. It finds them losing their personality as this could be any metal band from 1999.
Not as a big of a sound as what I have heard from previous albums. I am unsure of the acoustic strum on "Bastards". "the Blackening" was the last thing I heard from Robb Flynn. He is the only original member left and since this is his baby I guess that doesn't matter. He was social justice warrior number one going after Phil Anselmo on Youtube and the sentiment is celebrated on "Bastards". "Hope Begets Hope" is the first song where the big guitar sound I remember these guys having is invoked. The verses do have a more melodic radio rock feel. This song is better than many on this album, but doesn't sink the hook in you as hard as I might like . At 50 it does feel Flynn is more current than many who found themselves in a mid-life metal crisis.
By the time we get to "Screaming at the Sun" I have accepted the fact this is a nu-metal band and I am reviewing an album by a nu-metal band. So based on those facts they are successful at creating that sound. "Behind the Mask" must refer to the masks Slipknot wears. It is more of a ballad like interlude than an actual song with its own two legs. "Heavy Lies the Crown" feels more like an over dramatic Alice Cooper song with the whispered vocals. The verse riff has a more classic metal chug to it. So just because I accepted the fact this is nu-metal it doesn't mean I am accepting something like the song "Psychotic which would have come across as filler on a Mudvayne album. "Grind You Down" has a little more momentum which helps it. "Razorblade Smile" is not as fortunate as it feels more rushed to me.
The album closes with "Eulogy" which is a very atmospheric ballad. The vocals are shrouded in effects. It manages to build without feeling like it goes anywhere.I'll give this album 6.5, there were only two songs that did much for me. These guys know what they are doing I would expect something a little more mature from a 50 year old rather than teenage temper tantrums, that brand of angst could be more refined. If you are into nu-metal then round it up a whole point.
