Classic Albums

[Einherjar86]

Obviously influence is a valid criterion for determining a classic album, along with originality, composition, musicianship etc

I agree that influence and originality have a great deal to do with an album being a classic. However, I don't think that musicianship has a great deal to do with it. Bands that aren't that great at playing their instruments can have an enormous amount of influence on a genre. That's basically how punk began. However, I agree that lots of classic and prog rock bands were exceptional musicians; but that goes hand-in-hand with their style of music. But old school black metal doesn't really exhibit great musicianship; still, it was influential.

 

[skeptik]

Musicianship can certainly play a factor in something being classic, but really that's only insofar as the way in which the musicianship has gone on to be praised/copied/hailed/worshipped/etc as classic.For example, a big part of why Van Halen is a classic is because of the playing style of Eddie Van Halen and the musicianship he put on display which went on to influence so many guitarists. But yeah, musicianship in and of itself isn't going to make an album a classic.

 

[Einherjar86]

^Yeah, I agree.

 

[Addo_Of_Nex]

I may be the minority, but I look at musicianship as more than just the level of technical proficiency you possess in playing your instrument.

For example, Quorthon was better at making quality music than a guy like Michael Angelo Batio will ever be, though the level of technical proficiency Batio has exceeds someone like Quorthon about a thousand times over. Still, Bathory remains one of the most significant bands in the history of metal known for composing classic after classic, whereas Batio's claim to fame is his ability to alternate pick faster than almost any other guitarist on the planet.

My point is, you can still be a stellar musician and still play your instrument/s in an amateurishly fashion, as long as the result of your playing is music of excellent quality and integrity.

 

[DarkBliss]

Obviously, because it's the impact of the music that counts, and not necessarily the level of proficiency behind it.

 

[skeptik]

We generally call that songwriting ability. Musicianship we generally designate as technical proficiency at a given instrument.

 

[Einherjar86]

Nec beat me to it.

Yeah, I would definitely agree that Batio is a better musician. But Quorthon is a better songwriter. That's the difference.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Agreed fully.

 

[Thoth-Amon]

Musicianship can certainly play a factor in something being classic, but really that's only insofar as the way in which the musicianship has gone on to be praised/copied/hailed/worshipped/etc as classic.For example, a big part of why Van Halen is a classic is because of the playing style of Eddie Van Halen and the musicianship he put on display which went on to influence so many guitarists. But yeah, musicianship in and of itself isn't going to make an album a classic.

.

 

[IWP]

I have a couple for the "flower" power metal section.

Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica and Winterheart's Guild
Twilightning - Delirium Veil
Stratovarius - Visions

 

[Einherjar86]

Definitely agree with the Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius choices.

 

[Vegard Pompey]

As for power metal...

Stratovarius - Visions and Episode
Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath
Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
Helloween - Keeper of the Keys pt. I & II
Elvenking - Heathenreel (though I don't know if this should be counted as power or folk)
Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands

 

[mutantllama]

I would throw in Nightfall in Middle Earth.

 

[Vegard Pompey]

I didn't like Nightfall in Middle-Earth... It's just... Those interludes everywhere, it's annoying. Somehow. Maybe I'm just stupid... Again.

 

[rms]

Fuck Elvenking, those homo's haven't made a classic album.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Yes they have, Heathenreel is most certainly a classic folk/power metal album.

 

[Einherjar86]

As for power metal...

Stratovarius - Visions and Episode
Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath
Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
Helloween - Keeper of the Keys pt. I & II
Elvenking - Heathenreel (though I don't know if this should be counted as power or folk)
Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands

That's a pretty good Euro-power list.

I'd add (for American epic/trad/power):
Manilla Road- Crystal Logic
Cirith Ungol- Frost and Fire
Manowar- Battle Hymns
Jag Panzer- Ample Destruction
Crimson Glory- s/t
Brocas Helm- Into Battle

Anyone want to add/edit this list, go ahead.


EDIT: Also (if we're going to include Elvenking) Skyclad should have a place on the list for folk metal.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Crimson Glory - Transcendence maybe?

 

[IWP]

Definitely agree with the Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius choices.

You'll love Twilightning's Delirium Veil album then. It has more of an 80s sound to it, especially with the keyboards, but it's actually better in my opinion. If you like Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius, you'll love Twilightning.

 

[Einherjar86]

Crimson Glory - Transcendence maybe?

I always thought their debut was more influential. You probably know better.

EDIT: also @ IWP^ Thanks for the rec. I'll definitely give them a try, although I don't listen to Sonata and Strato anymore really I listened to them way too much when I was younger. But I'll check out Twilighting.