Controversial opinions on metal

[HamburgerBoy]

The objectively-correct power ranking:

Metallica
Slayer
Megadeth
Exodus
Celtic Frost*
Destruction
Sodom
Kreator
Voivod
Sepultura
Overkill
Anthrax
Testament
Dark Angel
Possessed
Watchtower
Coroner
Nuclear Assault**
DRI**
Suicidal Tendencies**
Artillery
Razor
Flotsam & Jetsam
Sacrifice
Holy Moses
Death Angel
Annihilator
Mekong Delta
Bulldozer
Living Death
Tankard
Sacred Reich
Messiah
Hirax
Whiplash
Deathrow
Heathen
Hallow's Eve
Onslaught

*If they count
**Somewhere around there, I can't be bothered to differentiate the three

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Destruction is the Exodus to Kreator's Anthrax. There's a funny interview from 1984 where Angelripper says that the big 3 is Sodom, Destruction, and Iron Angel, and that Kreator (then Tormentor) were just an Exciter clone. Kreator wins on sales and longevity, but I'm placing extra value on 80s output. I'd argue that Release From Agony was one of the first true tech-thrash albums as well, ahead of what Coroner was doing at least. Their riffs can also be heard all over the first-wave black metal scene, not so much for Kreator or Sodom.

I definitely prefer Overkill to Sepultura, but Bestial Devastation/Morbid Visions were much further ahead of the curve and helped establish the entire South American sound.

 

[no country for old wainds]

Are Dark Angel that iconic though? Not sure if it's the best metric of popularity but their most popular album has less than 2000 ratings on RYM, and they're nowhere near as prolific as most of the bands mentioned. Voivod on the other hand have been releasing albums consistently for 3½ decades, plus they have a very distinct sound that seems to have a reach of influence way disproportionate with their popularity, being cited as an influence by loads of artists in completely disparate genres.

DARKNESS DESCENDS is a bigger deal in thrash circles than any single voivod album as far as i'm aware, a lot of people consider it the quintessential thrash album. but i take your point.

destruction should definitely be that high, fag0t. objectively they should probably be bottom of the three german bands though tbh, if we're purely talking canonical status. it's pretty trendy to consider them the weakest of the three.

hbb's rankings are fine anyways, although i'd have cut it off about halfway up lol

 

[Sirjack]

Death Angel should be up around Coroner

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Sodom was first-wave black metal, what are you talking about? Obsessed By Cruelty is an early black metal classic. They did far more for it than Destruction.

They had the sound, but not the riffs. I can accept putting Sodom over Destruction, though not Kreator over Destruction.

Kreator is very weak. Pleasure to Kill is the only necessary Kreator album. Endless Pain is as mediocre as it gets, and most of the stuff post-PtK isn't even worth discussing.

Death Angel should be up around Coroner

If it wasn't for their famed youth they wouldn't have anything going for them other than being semi-early on the alt-thrash scene with Act III.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I mean, if we're focusing more on sales, Anthrax and Testament deserve to be put above all the German bands.

 

[Phylactery]

I tend to see more opinions of Kreator being the weakest of the big 3, and I've seen quite a few opinions of people that don't like Sodom at all but like Kreator and Destruction. Destruction is my favourite of the 3.

Death Angel being ranked around Coroner is something I definitely can't get behind. They're pretty mediocre.

 

[Sirjack]

Nah it should be about respect, not sales. l love a good deal of early Anthrax but l don't think they should have been Big 4.
Although saying that, the influence they had on the next wave - particularly the Meshuggah's of this world is undeniable

Frolic through the park and yes, Act III are progressive thrash classics, that's why they should be higher

 

[Sirjack]

And yeah, Destruction easily for the best of zee Gremans

 

[Phylactery]

The objectively-correct power ranking:

Any objectively correct power ranking has Slayer at the top.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Any objectively correct power ranking has Slayer at the top.

Slayer would be at the very top of the death metal power ranking, but they still can't compare to Metallica in terms of thrash itself.

 

[Phylactery]

Maybe just "extreme metal" in general? I'd say Hell Awaits had just as much influence on black metal as it did death metal. RiB is definitely more death metal orientated, though.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Sure, Slayer can be the top black metal band as well.

 

[Talos of Atmora]

From Germany, for me, it would be Sodom first, Destruction coming at an extremely close second and Kreator being third by far.

 

[CiG]

Isn't the big four specifically an American thing? Adding non-American bands to it straight off the bat seems silly to me.

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

yes, big four was basically the four most popular thrash bands in the US.

Destruction should not be that high, and Overkill curbstomps Sepultura.

Twatcraft, Destruction should definitely be "that high" and the best Sepultura albums absolutely curb-stomp and annihilate the best Overkill albums. no fuckin comparison.

I tend to see more opinions of Kreator being the weakest of the big 3

Kreator has almost always been considered the best of the "Teutonic big three" by most people. I personally dont have a favorite when it comes to them. Sodom have the most albums i like, but PtK and Eternal Devastation are better than anything Sodom have done imo.

 

[Krow]

Sodom has always been my favorite without much contest. I also appreciate that they're still releasing decent music, something I don't feel like the other two are doing.

I like Kreator and try not to sell them short but I just like the whole first wave black metal evil Motörhead.

 

[EspaDa]

Thrash metal has the worst fanbase in the entire metal scene. Who the hell cares about the big four anymore?

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

The funny thing is that they probably would have been the best band of the four had they been put in that category.

Lulz

i think a big ten would be slayer, metallica, megadeth, sodom, kreator, destruction, dark angel, exodus, overkill and sepultura.

Replace Dark Angel with Testament and i think we would have the official "Big Ten" list right there.