Controversial opinions on metal

[MrTagoMago]

I most likely wouldn't include a demo unless it's decent leagnth like at the very least reaches more than 25 minutes but imo a lot of death metal or extreme music in general sounds better on demo with the more raw production. Also we earlier discussed Poison Into the abyss which was a demo from 1987. As for comps I generally don't care about them however in some cases they are essential like when the band's discography consists only of short demos and eps. Like Nihilist's Nihilist (1987-1989) or Parabellums Tempus Mortis for example.

Also my favorite grindcore album is only 11 minutes long.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Ulysses Siren's two demos are easily on par with anything else in thrash metal in terms of quality songwriting, and with the comp clocking in at around 28 minutes it's not really much shorter than Reign in Blood or the first two Megadeth albums (when you delete the cover tracks).

Second-tier albums from first-tier metal labels are usually pretty overrated. Like what, I'm supposed to give a shit about Malevolent Creation or Unleashed just because they happened to come from hot scenes and had more sales-potential? I mean, I can agree that it's absurd when you have people pimping demos over all of the true pioneers, but there's plenty of original and quality demo material that never got a chance due to a mixture of geography, being too weird/risky, or the band breaking up too early.

 

[MrTagoMago]

I dislike this idea that just because a band is a pioneer that automatically means they are good or one of the best. A lot of people think that the best bands and albums in metal have to be these renowned classics and that more obscure and lesser known stuff just can't be as good which to me that mentality goes against what metal was all about. I enjoy digging through obscure stuff and discovering hidden gems I can enjoy as much as the classics or often I prefer the hidden gems over the classics.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Not automatically, but let's face it, if a person thinks obscure death/thrash demo band X is amazing and considers Slayer to be mediocre, they probably have shit standards. Or loving obscure USPM band X but hating Iron Maiden. Or taking Lethal over Queensryche, as mentioned in the cover art thread yesterday. I mean, for a person that likes demo stuff because of raw recording values, at least they have a reason, but I've seen some really inexplicable preferences on various places.

 

[MrTagoMago]

Well I do think Slayer is pretty mediocre and I don't care for Iron Maiden. I guess I'm just a hipster then.

Then again my favorite metal bands are Black Sabbath and Judas Priest so I'm just not sure anymore.

 

[Phylactery]

I don't care what you think about Slayer as a whole, they are mediocre now since they haven't been relevant for 25+ years.

I care about what you think of their first 3 albums + EP, which are all varying levels of godliness.

 

[MrTagoMago]

I don't care what you think about Slayer as a whole, they are mediocre since they haven't been relevant for 25+ years.

I care about what you think of their first 3 albums + EP, which are all varying levels of godliness.

I like the stuff they did before Reign in blood fine enough. With Reign in blood I like Angel of death and the rest is meh. I also think Rainning blood the song is cringey.

 

[Internally Deformed]

Well I do think Slayer is pretty mediocre

I now no longer trust your opinion on anything.

 

[MrTagoMago]

I now no longer trust your opinion on anything.

Have I not made this clear already? Im sure I've mentioned it plenty in this thread I don't care for Slayer, Metallica, or Iron Maiden.

 

[Phylactery]

I like the stuff they did before Reign in blood fine enough. With Reign in blood I like Angel of death and the rest is meh. I also think Rainning blood the song is cringey.

I don't like Reign in Blood as much as the previous 2, or Haunting the Chapel either. It's still great, though. Hell Awaits is my absolute favourite and easily crushes every other thrash album I've ever heard.

 

[MrTagoMago]

I don't like Reign in Blood as much as the previous 2, or Haunting the Chapel either. It's still great, though. Hell Awaits is my absolute favourite and easily crushes every other thrash album I've ever heard.

That's fine but the opinion I'd get the most flack for is that I hate South of heaven.

 

[Internally Deformed]

I can get why someone might not like the latter two, particularly Iron Maiden. But Slayer have written some of the coolest riffs in extreme music, and all their first four albums are pure fucking auditory evil from start to finish. I don't see how anyone with even a casual interest in Death Metal or Thrash could listen to a song like Altar of Sacrifice, At Dawn They Sleep or Live Undead and not see that it rules.

 

[MrTagoMago]

I can get why someone might not like the latter two, particularly Iron Maiden. But Slayer have written some of the coolest riffs in extreme music, and all their first four albums are pure fucking auditory evil from start to finish. I don't see how anyone with even a casual interest in Death Metal or Thrash could listen to a song like Altar of Sacrifice, At Dawn They Sleep or Live Undead and not see that it rules.

I don't see how anyone can listen to South of heaven and not be annoyed at the laughable vocals and pitiful attempt to create a brooding atmosphere. It also comes off as if they are trying to hold back on that album which adds to the awkwardness of it.

 

[Phylactery]

I don't care enough about South of Heaven or Seasons in the Abyss for that matter to really argue their case. I think they're both good albums, but I pretty much never want to listen to either.

 

[MrTagoMago]

Well I'm listening to Hell awaits since you mentioned it and to be fair I haven't listened to it in a while so gonna see how it holds up for me.

 

[Internally Deformed]

I don't see how anyone can listen to South of heaven and not be annoyed at the laughable vocals and pitiful attempt to create a brooding atmosphere. It also comes off as if they are trying to hold back on that album which adds to the awkwardness of it.

It's like you've listened to a completely different album to me. You need to stop searching around for obscure demos and go back and listen to the greats until you fully appreciate just why they're so good. I remember you saying that you thought Altars of Madness was overrated, too, so I suggest you also stick that on repeat when you've finished with Slayer. Any other legendary bands you think are overrated?

 

[MrTagoMago]

It's like you've listened to a completely different album to me. You need to stop searching around for obscure demos and go back and listen to the greats until you fully appreciate just why they're so good. I remember you saying that you thought Altars of Madness was overrated, too, so I suggest you also stick that on repeat when you've finished with Slayer. Any other legendary bands you think are overrated?

Dude I've listened to South of heaven plenty of times and I was listening to Altars of madness a small while ago and my opinion of it has improved but I can't say I think it's the best death metal album ever by any means.


I don't like Pantera. I don't like Guns n roses either.

 

[Internally Deformed]

I don't like Pantera. I don't like Guns n roses either.

No disagreement on either of those. I like Appetite for Destruction, but I get that taste is a factor there. Slayer are so central to what death and thrash became, though, that taste doesn't even come into it.

I'm listening to South of Heaven again right now and Araya's vocals sound epic. I know what you mean by the sound of the album being more restrained, but I don't see that as a drawback - it lends clarity.

 

[MrTagoMago]

No disagreement on either of those. I like Appetite for Destruction, but I get that taste is a factor there. Slayer are so central to what death and thrash became, though, that taste doesn't even come into it.

I'm listening to South of Heaven again right now and Araya's vocals sound epic. I know what you mean by the sound of the album being more restrained, but I don't see that as a drawback - it lends clarity.

My issue isn't that it's not brutal but it sounds like they're purposefully holding back and it doesn't feel natural. Listen to Behind the crooked cross for embarrassing vocals. Overall it just comes off as watered down to me. I'll go with Show no mercy as their best for me.

I do prefer South of heaven over the abomination that is And justice for all though.

 

[Internally Deformed]

My issue isn't that it's not brutal but it sounds like they're purposefully holding back and it doesn't feel natural. Listen to Behind the crooked cross for embarrassing vocals. Overall it just comes off as watered down to me. I'll go with Show no mercy as their best for me.

I do prefer South of heaven over the abomination that is And justice for all though.

The vocals on that song sound a little distant maybe, but that's about the only criticism I could make. The intro gives me an instant erection, and each riff is as good as the last with none overstaying their welcome. Tbh I think you're judging too much based on the sound of the album, and not enough on composition.

And Justice for All is okay IMO, I neither love it nor loathe it. It's also head and shoulders above every album that followed.