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.
No comments:
Post a Comment