Controversial opinions on metal

1. Exodus, do you like them, what's your favorite album, what are your thoughts on the first two Zetro albums
I only know Bonded by Blood, which is good/great, but not a thrash favourite of mine.

2. First two Testament albums, what do you think?
Good, not great.

3. Alder-era Fates Warning in general
I can't really comment, I've only heard a few songs off No Exit and Perfect Symmetry

4. Dream Theater in general
Abhorrent. My closest friend is obsessed so I have unfortunately endured most of their material.

5. Virgin Steele, where do they rank in your metal pantheon?
Haven't heard anything by them.

6. Ares Kingdom, where do they rank in your metal pantheon?
I've only heard Incendiary, which is good.

7. Place the following doom metal bands in order of preference: Candlemass, Pagan Altar, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Solitude Aeturnus, Trouble
Candlemass > Solitude Aeturnus > Trouble > Saint Vitus > Pagan Altar > Pentagram

8. Place the following thrash metal bands in order of preference: Artillery, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, Exhorder, Flotsam and Jetsam, Holy Terror, Sabbat (UK)
Artillery > Holy Terror > Dark Angel > Demolition Hammer > Sabbat > Exhorder
(I haven't heard any Flotsam and Jetsam)
 
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Not really controversial, but Martin van Drunen > John Tardy. Two of the best though imo.

Definitely agree, but there are quite a lot of people who think Tardy is shit for some inexplicable reason. That disgusting vomit soaked roar at the start of "Internal Bleeding" is the stuff of nightmares.

Peak David Vincent (Altars and Blessed) is the king of the more traditional death metal vocalists. Started going downhill on Covenant, and sounds pretty shit on Domination.
 
Definitely agree, but there are quite a lot of people who think Tardy is shit for some inexplicable reason. That disgusting vomit soaked roar at the start of "Internal Bleeding" is the stuff of nightmares.

Peak David Vincent (Altars and Blessed) is the king of the more traditional death metal vocalists. Started going downhill on Covenant, and sounds pretty shit on Domination.

I actually think he was at his vocal peak on Covenant. :(
 
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1) I do like them. Favorite albums: Impact is Imminent, Bonded By Blood
2) They are stellar. Probably in the Top 4 Testament albums
3) Better than the Arch era
4) Great. Train of Thought is their pinnacle album
5) Made one of the greatest heavy metal albums ever but ultimately lower on the scale of trad metal bands
6) Overrated, but good death/thrash
7) Candlemass, Trouble, Candlemass Aeternus, Saint Vitus, Pagan Altar, Pentagram
8) Demolition Hammer, F&J, Exhorder, Dark Angel, Artillery, Sabbat, Holy Terror

What do I win?

Out-crowd.

1. Exodus, do you like them, what's your favorite album, what are your thoughts on the first two Zetro albums? I like Exodus to a certain point, my favourite album is Bonded By Blood, Zetro's first two albums are pretty cool but not big favourites of mine or anything.
2. First two Testament albums, what do you think? Fantastic!
3. Alder-era Fates Warning in general? I've only heard the first three and I like them, but not as much as Arch-era.
4. Dream Theater in general? Love the debut, sophomore is cool too, haven't heard past that.
5. Virgin Steele, where do they rank in your metal pantheon? Top tier. One of my all time favourite metal bands. Inconsistent but as a result, every now and then they reach peak greatness as a result of trying new/risky things.
6. Ares Kingdom, where do they rank in your metal pantheon? Mid-tier. Cool band, not much to say.
7. Place the following doom metal bands in order of preference: Candlemass, Pagan Altar, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Solitude Aeturnus, Trouble:
  • Saint Vitus
  • Trouble
  • Candlemass
  • Pentagram
  • Solitude Aeturnus
  • Pagan Altar
8. Place the following thrash metal bands in order of preference: Artillery, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, Exhorder, Flotsam and Jetsam, Holy Terror, Sabbat (UK):
  • Dark Angel
  • Holy Terror
  • Flotsam and Jetsam
  • Artillery
  • Demolition Hammer
  • Exhorder

Some agreement with the in-crowd, but overall not in-crowd. If you had answered differently for the Testament question I might have reconsidered my previous evaluation on you, but knowing your general history, you're fine.

1. Only own Bonded By Blood. Top ten thrash album. I've never listened to anything else except for The Toxic Waltz which didn't leave much of an impression, but that was probably about a decade ago.
2. I own The Legacy on tape. It's cool.
3. Love No Exit and Perfect Symmetry, haven't heard anything else.
4. No opinion.
5. Own The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: Part I, listened to it through once. I Will Come for You is the only song I remember.
6. Only have their debut. Decent band. Probably haven't listened to them since 2010.
7. Solitude Aeturnus, Candlemass, Saint Vitus, Trouble, Pentagram, Pagan Altar
8. Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, Artillery, Exhorder, Sabbat, Flotsam & Jetsam (unfamiliar with Holy Terror aside from one song from a mixtape game, which ruled)

Not as in-crowd-y as I expected, especially the entire second half of questions. Will require follow-up.

1. Yes. BbB. Fabulous Disaster is cool too and contains one of the most anthemic metal songs of all time though.
2. I havent heard these albums for years.
3. Never bothered, but I hardly consider the Arch era the greatest shit ever.
4. Okay in small doses.
5. I dont like VS at all. Tried albums from several time periods.
6. Dont like them really. Never have.
7. Vitus, PA, Candlemass, SA, Trouble, Pentagram
8. Demo Hammer, Artillery, > the rest > Exhorder

quiz isn't very good, has no mention of Manilla Road.

Not remotely in-crowd.

Manilla Road was excluded because it'd be too easy.

1. Exodus, do you like them, what's your favorite album, what are your thoughts on the first two Zetro albums?
Yeah, I like them. Fabulous Disaster and Bonded by Blood are probably my two favorites by them. Zetro's first two were pretty good. Fabulous Disaster, of course, is my favorite of the two.

2. First two Testament albums, what do you think?
Awesome stuff. It's some of my favorite material by the band.

3. Alder-era Fates Warning in general?
The Alder era isn't bad at all. No Exit, Perfect Symmetry, Darkness in a Different Light and Theories of Flight are all excellent albums. Granted, I prefer the Arch era but still...

4. Dream Theater in general?
A fantastic progressive metal band that became blinded by ludicrous excess once Moore left the band. I liked Metropolis Pt. II but after that, each album was really inconsistent. Even more so when Portnoy left.

5. Virgin Steele, where do they rank in your metal pantheon?
Pretty high. Don't know where I'd put them exactly. I think their '80s material is a bit inconsistent in comparison to their '90s work due to them not knowing whether they were going to be epic heavy metal or party rock. That being said, I still like Guardians of the Flame and Noble Savage (their first essential release, in my opinion). The '90s stuff kicks ass though.

6. Ares Kingdom, where do they rank in your metal pantheon?
Didn't listen to a single track by them until you mentioned them in this questionnaire. I started listening to Return to Dust a short while ago and it's pretty good so far. I will listen further.

7. Place the following doom metal bands in order of preference: Candlemass, Pagan Altar, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Solitude Aeturnus, Trouble

1. Candlemass
2. Solitude Aeturnus
3. Saint Vitus
4. Trouble
5. Pagan Altar
6. Pentagram

8. Place the following thrash metal bands in order of preference: Artillery, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, Exhorder, Flotsam and Jetsam, Holy Terror, Sabbat (UK)


1. Artillery
2. Demolition Hammer
3. Dark Angel
4. Flotsam and Jetsam
5. Sabbat
6. Holy Terror
7. Exhorder

Not at all in-crowd. You pass, friend.

this should've been subtler, most of these are obviously loaded. i wish i could answer more of them, you should throw out some more imho

1) you know i likes me some exodus. fav songs are 'deliver us to evil', 'piranha' and 'fabulous disaster' - can't remember the second album well at all.

2, 3, 4) mostly not informed enough to say. i like no exit and i reckon i'd be quite receptive toward dream theater these days. used to think of THE LEGACY as being good at what it was but kinda unnotable identity wise, but i haven't heard it in a long while. don't think i've ever heard the sophomore.

5) only heard the heaven and hell albums, not close to being favourites of mine but i like them to a 3.5 sorta level. not sure why they're in this test as they don't seem particularly in crowd or out crowd.

6) i recall thinking they could be rly good if they cut out all the excess fat. kinda like recent vektor actually. about a 3 star band.

7) peak level: trouble (5), pentagram (5), vitus (5), candlemass (5), pagan altar (4).
overall: vitus (4.5), candlemass (4), trouble (4), pagan altar (4), pentagram (3.5).

haven't heard solitude aeturnus in ages. don't mostly care for the later trouble stuff you like, it's probably better written if anything though, just in a style (or styles) i get nothing out of. all six of these bands are very in-crowd friendly, no?

8) this seems like a better test. holy terror are a 4, dark angel and dem ham are both 3-3.5 sorta territory on their first two, f&j's debut is a 3, sabbat's albums are a 3 and 2.5. been too long since i heard exhorder or artillery but would've had them around 2.5-3 level back in t' day.

Highly problematic. This is exactly why we have need in-crowd awareness. This culture of toxic omniarchy and debut fetishism is one of the principal causes behind discographic stereotypes which lead to adverse listening outcomes in impressionable youths.

1. Exodus, do you like them, what's your favorite album, what are your thoughts on the first two Zetro albums

They're solid and recognize they're good, just never feel the need to listen to them. Bonded By Blood was the album I listened to most when I did listen, though the early Zetro albums are solid.

2. First two Testament albums, what do you think?

Testament is boring as fuck.

3. Alder-era Fates Warning in general

Not as good as Arch era, but still generally not bad

4. Dream Theater in general

Talented, but fucking dull

5. Virgin Steele, where do they rank in your metal pantheon?

Their stretch of albums from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell - Part One through The House of Atreus: Act II fucking rule. Great band during those years, but wew did they get shitty lately. Early stuff isn't awful. If only counting the 90s/early 00s output then one of my favorite heavy metal bands, but career as a whole brings them down a lot.

6. Ares Kingdom, where do they rank in your metal pantheon?

Probably my favorite modern death metal band.

7. Place the following doom metal bands in order of preference: Candlemass, Pagan Altar, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Solitude Aeturnus, Trouble

Saint Vitus, Candlemass, Pentagram, Trouble, Pagan Altar, Solitude Aeternus

8. Place the following thrash metal bands in order of preference: Artillery, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, Exhorder, Flotsam and Jetsam, Holy Terror, Sabbat (UK)

Holy Terror
Artillery
Sabbat
Dark Angel
Demolition Hammer
Flotsam and Jetsam
Exhorder

I regret forgetting to name you the shrine maiden of the in-crowd earlier.
 
1. Exodus, do you like them, what's your favorite album, what are your thoughts on the first two Zetro albums
I only know Bonded by Blood, which is good/great, but not a thrash favourite of mine.

2. First two Testament albums, what do you think?
Good, not great.

3. Alder-era Fates Warning in general
I can't really comment, I've only heard a few songs off No Exit and Perfect Symmetry

4. Dream Theater in general
Abhorrent. My closest friend is obsessed so I have unfortunately endured most of their material.

5. Virgin Steele, where do they rank in your metal pantheon?
Haven't heard anything by them.

6. Ares Kingdom, where do they rank in your metal pantheon?
I've only heard Incendiary, which is good.

7. Place the following doom metal bands in order of preference: Candlemass, Pagan Altar, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Solitude Aeturnus, Trouble
Candlemass > Solitude Aeturnus > Trouble > Saint Vitus > Pagan Altar > Pentagram

8. Place the following thrash metal bands in order of preference: Artillery, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, Exhorder, Flotsam and Jetsam, Holy Terror, Sabbat (UK)
Artillery > Holy Terror > Dark Angel > Demolition Hammer > Sabbat > Exhorder
(I haven't heard any Flotsam and Jetsam)

Sorry, missed this one. First four answers are extremely in-crowd, but the genre questions were basically a wash. If I branched out a bit more I'm sure you'd still pass for in-crowd.
 
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Haha I knew only having heard Bonded by Blood and hating Dream Theater would get me. But at least I've actually heard a lot of DT's material, I bet quite a few people who rag on them haven't.