ElectricWiz said:
Yeah, I've noticed that too. Anyway, the list. I'll keep to just the metal, or at least "heavy," stuff, but I have a pretty broad taste in that area. My favorites range from old-school to new classic sounding things....to some of the more "alternative," varieties of heavy music. This is the stuff that always seems to form the core of my collection.
In no particular order then:
Mercyful Fate
Nevermore
Black Sabbath
Hammers of Misfortune
The Lord Weird Slough Feg
Iron Maiden (Bruce's later solo stuff too)
John Arch (more-so than Fates Warning even)
ISIS
Opeth
Tool
YOB (honorable mention. Too new to be a stalwart classic yet)
Manilla Road (just discovered)
Saxon
I'm sure I'm leaving out a couple that I think of as essential....but I'm at work and not near my CDs....ha. Of those, I'd say my BIG 3 these days are ISIS, Opeth and Tool. Opeth, for me, has THE most consistent run of good albums in recent years. One of the best metal bands of all time.
....and of course all the bands that have come and gone through the years (for me anyway) like:
early Slayer
early Metallica
Venom
Rainbow
King Diamond
even some of the old Manowar stuff
and 100 more....
Basically, if it's heavy I'll give it a try. Of course, above I'm leaving out the obvious stuff (but not so heavy metal) like Zeppelin and Deep Purple, and on down the line. Also, I went through a heavy early death phase (ala Possessed etc.), and a doom phase (Electric Wizard, Warhorse, Acid Bath). All this stuff still goes in the player from time to time.
For me, the top three metal albums of all time are Master of Puppets, Number of the Beast, and Blackwater Park. I think time will prove that last one to be so....I really do. Mercyful Fate Mellissa would be #4. I'd have to think on #5.
And there's the less obvious stuff (and not so metal) like the Mars Volta, Wishbone Ash, Hawkwind, all that.
I'm certain I left out some stuff that is very close to my heart. Also, I won't bother mentioning all the stuff like Anthrax or whatever that I listened to as much as the next guy, but only felt passionate about for small bits of time.
I'd be interested in seeing your list too, of course. Especially since I'll no doubt say, "Ah shit, I forgot them...yeah, they rule...." all that shyte. Haha. I tend to gravitate to underground stuff, and as I look at my above lists they look suspciously mainstream somehow. Hmmm.
Man, I sure do likes me some Heavy Metal.
This erie...reading your post gave me the chills.
It appears as if we've walked a similar musical road!
To explain:
My first exposure to metal was through the popular bands of 1983-1984: Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, Ratt, Scorpions, Twisted Sister, Def Leppard - the bands that were dominating MTV, at that time. Of course, I was already into music...typical pop of the day, but once I heard these bands I felt like I stumbled across gold!
Fast forward a few months: a local radio show is broadcasting a special on Heavy Metal. Let's just say that show played the following CLASSICS of metal and I was hooked (line and sinker): "Metal Gods" (Priest), "I Dont Know (Ozzy) and "Icarus" (Maiden).
I, too, experienced all of the major "movements" as they progressed, but I was always riding the wave BEFORE my friends. I was into Slayer BEFORE "Reign in Blood"; into Metallica BEFORE "Master"; into Megadeth BEFORE "Peace Sells", etc.
I dabbled in death metal but quickly grew bored as I thought it was a 'dead end' street...it wasn't a progress.
I've always had periods, that generally lasted for a few years, where one band rose to prominence and assumed the role of my "fav band":
Maiden 1984-1988
King Diamond / MFate 1989-1991
Led Zep 1991-1993 (and really all the day through today, but I've played them out so much they get little 'air time')
My Dying Bride 1993-1997
Opeth 1997-2001
Porcupine Tree / Katatonia 2001-2003
Deep Purple 2003
In the early 90s as metal grew stale/stagnant, I discovered the great goth/black/heavy melancholy bands which, I felt, literally saved metal....the emotion, progression, energy, etc., that these bands created was refreshing, to say the least.
Now, I'm into practically ANY thing that's heavy....and that doesn't necessarily translate into distorted guitars. I consider Dead Can Dance, Depeche Mode (post 1986) and Portishead among the heaviest bands ever!
So, as of today, my all time favs are:
Led Zep / Deep Purple / Black Sabbath / Pink Floyd
Maiden / Priest / Rainbow / Accept / AC.DC (Bon Scott era) / Queensryche
My Dying Bride / Opeth / Anathema / Gathering / In the Woods / Katatonia
Dio / Glenn Hughes
My fav albums are:
1) Heaven and Hell
2) Somewhere in Time
3) Turn Loose the Swans - My Dying Bride
4) Blackwater Park - Opeth
5) Omnio - In the Woods
other notables are: Awaken the Guardian, Alternative 4 (Anathema), Last Fair Deal Gone Down (Katatonia), Lightbulb Sun (Porc Tree), Badlands (Badlands), Gutter Ballet (Savatage), and of King Diamond's first 5 solo albums, and, of course, Melissa and Oath; any of the 1st 6 Zep and Sab records, and any of the 4 Mark II Purple albums.
Being that you like Opeth, it's absolutely mandatory that you check out the following two releases, which are as groundbreaking as anything Opeth ever released:
Omnio - In the Woods
Turn Loose the Swans - My Dying Bride
As an aside, I saw your thread regarding Manilla Road, a band I'd literally NEVER heard of, checked out a few samples and proceeded to order their last two albums! They should arrive this week!
And, ironically, I was poised to post a new thread today regarding the absolute brilliance of 1997+ Saxon. I love the classics, but their recent outout just defines metal, IMO. Heavy, melodic, no frills, no cheese/pretension. And i really only "discovered" Saxon last summer. I'd never given them a shot until then.
I'm currently totally DIGGING bands that I've discovered this year:
RUSH and GLENN HUGHES. I'm sure Rush needs no introduction. Glenn Hughes, while you probably know of him, is special. The man's solo albums are simply amazing! It's got a great funk/metal vibe, and above all, immense songwriting. The man should be a household name. Sadly, however, he's not. You really should check out his latest "Soul Mover". Unreal!
Ah, for the love of metal....I could go on for hours.