Controversial opinions on metal

[rms]

Past what point? There are many highly acclaimed metal bands with superior non-debut albums (Sabbath, Maiden, Priest...), let alone if you want to look further (Coroner, Immolation, Atheist, Fates Warning...).

I think Sabbath's debut is pretty amazing but I think it's much easier to find bands with superior debuts than the rest of their catalog

 

[Baroque]

I think there are at least 3 commons trends with album quality:

1) Bands that have a superior first album and then start going downhill
2) Bands that have a really shitty first album and then keep improving
3) Older bands that have had many lineup changes so their quality is scattered throughout their career.

 

[Pitiless Wanderer]

4. Bands with the same line up (give or take a member here or there) that simply produce quality records on an irregular basis (SYL for example).

 

[The Ozzman]

Armored Saint doesn't fit any of these

 

[CiG]

Anthrax definitely fit snugly into category 1.

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

Anthrax do not have a single good album, therefor cannot be included in any of those categories. I don't remember their fist one being that much better than Spreading the Disease ... haven't listened to em in a while though.

 

[CiG]

Spreading The Disease's riffs and overall vibe I remember being much Thrashier, it has been awhile though and I'm not crazy about the band, I just recall liking Fistful of Metal a lot more.

 

[Satanstoenail]

Anthrax definitely fit snugly into category 1.

Except that Among the Living is clearly their best album

 

[CiG]

If you say so.

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

Among the Living is nothing more than a hot, steaming pile of shit. Horrible album. Their first two are far better.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Spreading the Disease is so much better, mostly because ~half of it us trad/USPM.

 

[CiG]

I remember Fistful of Metal having a ton of USPM influences too.

 

[Satanstoenail]

That's why I prefer Among the Living.

 

[CiG]

Don't like USPM much?

 

[Satanstoenail]

Nope. not a fan of power metal in general.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Persistence of Time is easily my fav of their three thrash albums. It's still preachy and overlong, but they played up the chugging the right way, evolving from thrash-that-is-mid-tempo to proper groovery.

EDIT: Fistful isn't really melodic enough to be proper USPM. It's just kinda average trad stuff, one or two thrash songs, some speed metal, but almost closer to a Raven or Anvil than anything.

 

[CiG]

I hear a lot of Manowar or Jag Panzer in Fistful of Metal, but essentially I agree with you man, definitely way more Speed Metal.

I'm really not much of a Power Metal fan, but I love old USPM sounds and the early shit by Helloween, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall etc.
I fucking love Twisted Tower Dire.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Actually, I can hear the Manowar thing. I guess I meant more in the dual-guitar, proto-power metal vein ala Fates Warning, Queensryche, etc; songs like The Enemy and Medusa could have easily come from that wing of USPM. That's my personal preference anyways. I agree that Fistful of Metal has stuff in common with the rawer/raunchier wing, though.

 

[CiG]

I had a feeling that's what you meant and I fully agree, fuck I love that 'Medusa' track.

 

[The Butt]

Tbh I really can't stand any Anthrax.