Top 10 Most Formative Albums for your metal tastes
- Thread starter Baroque
- Start date
TechnicalBarbarity
Poser Disposer
CiG
Approximately Infinite Universe
Try my best to remember everything:
Metallica - Kill Em All
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Overkill - Under the Influence
Possessed - Seven Churches
(First CDs gifted to me from an older buddy.)
Death - Scream Bloody Gore
Darkthrone - Under a Funeral Moon
Cannibal Corpse - Eaten Back to Life
(First 3 metal CDs I bought with my own money.)
Napalm Death - Scum
Repulsion - Horrified
(First grindcore CDs I got, which is still one of my favourite genres.)
Impetigo - Ultimo Mondo Cannibale
(First album to make me realise I prefer goofy/gory/apolitical grindcore, also a long time favourite.)
Candlemass - Nightfall
Electric Wizard - Come My Fanatics...
(First doom CDs I purchased. EW shaped me much less than Candlemass though.)
Bolt Thrower - In Battle There Is No Law
(First BT CD and the band quickly became one of my favourites ever.)
Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten
Necrophagia - Season of the Dead
Entombed - Left Hand Path
Malevolent Creation - The Ten Commandments
Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness
Pungent Stench - Been Caught Buttering
Deicide - Deicide
Obituary - Slowly We Rot
Autopsy's first 4 albums
(Some of the earliest death metal CDs I purchased that set the standard for me.)
Alchemist - Jar of Kingdom
Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
Voivod - Dimension Hatross
(Blew my mind open to weirder metal.)
HamburgerBoy
Active Member
- Sep 16, 2007
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Just off the top of my head, the biggest ones:
Metallica - Master of Puppets - circa 1999, first time I asked to borrow a metal CD from my dad's collection (unless Alice Cooper's Hey Stoopid counts), barely left my CD player for years, I think it was the first time I really got chills from music as well (although my mom gave me a few classical CDs that I loved too)
Iron Maiden - Brave New World - circa 2003, the first time I could not only tolerate but love a higher-pitched metal singer, the first time I become completely obsessive over a band's entire discography, the album that really made me want to explore more
Exodus - Fabulous Disaster - circa 2005, after numerous misses going through my dad's Anthrax, Slayer, Overkill, Testament, etc CDs and his constant mentioning of the album every time Low Rider played on the radio, this is the one that really made me a fan of thrash and not just Metallica/Megadeth
Heathen - Victims of Deception - circa 2005, I was still afraid to pirate music at this age so the band giving their albums out for free was a great way for me to really explore more underground metal, although I'm not a huge fan of the album anymore at the time this was like a brand new 80s Metallica album which blew my mind and made me hungrier
Artillery - By Inheritance - circa 2005, among the earliest albums I pirated, it had a great reputation and I knew I would love it (and did), got me into blogspot/thrashmageddon hunting
Virus - Force Recon - circa 2006, this was the album to make me understand the appeal of sloppier, rawer thrash, loved the oi!-worthy accents and the gang shouts everywhere and how Mad Max-apocalyptic it felt, I think on an Iron Maiden forum I described Virus as the band Slayer wished they were, lol
Atheist - Unquestionable Presence - circa 2006, probably the album that really got me really interested in tech/prog metal, sort of an intro to death metal though that was more for its accessible thrashiness I think
Ulysses Siren - Above the Ashes - circa 2007, introduced me to the wonderful world of demos, and I think in a way it was this comp that really made me begin to understand and look for particular traits that made me love metal, e.g. the buzzsaw guitar tone, over-the-topness, Maiden-y scales with heavier aggression, etc, still an all-time favorite to this day
Not sure what I'd put for the last two. Arcturus' The Sham Mirrors, Testament's Demonic, Mephisto's S/T, and one of the 87-89 Voivod albums are all solid contenders though.
Metallica - Master of Puppets - circa 1999, first time I asked to borrow a metal CD from my dad's collection (unless Alice Cooper's Hey Stoopid counts), barely left my CD player for years, I think it was the first time I really got chills from music as well (although my mom gave me a few classical CDs that I loved too)
Iron Maiden - Brave New World - circa 2003, the first time I could not only tolerate but love a higher-pitched metal singer, the first time I become completely obsessive over a band's entire discography, the album that really made me want to explore more
Exodus - Fabulous Disaster - circa 2005, after numerous misses going through my dad's Anthrax, Slayer, Overkill, Testament, etc CDs and his constant mentioning of the album every time Low Rider played on the radio, this is the one that really made me a fan of thrash and not just Metallica/Megadeth
Heathen - Victims of Deception - circa 2005, I was still afraid to pirate music at this age so the band giving their albums out for free was a great way for me to really explore more underground metal, although I'm not a huge fan of the album anymore at the time this was like a brand new 80s Metallica album which blew my mind and made me hungrier
Artillery - By Inheritance - circa 2005, among the earliest albums I pirated, it had a great reputation and I knew I would love it (and did), got me into blogspot/thrashmageddon hunting
Virus - Force Recon - circa 2006, this was the album to make me understand the appeal of sloppier, rawer thrash, loved the oi!-worthy accents and the gang shouts everywhere and how Mad Max-apocalyptic it felt, I think on an Iron Maiden forum I described Virus as the band Slayer wished they were, lol
Atheist - Unquestionable Presence - circa 2006, probably the album that really got me really interested in tech/prog metal, sort of an intro to death metal though that was more for its accessible thrashiness I think
Ulysses Siren - Above the Ashes - circa 2007, introduced me to the wonderful world of demos, and I think in a way it was this comp that really made me begin to understand and look for particular traits that made me love metal, e.g. the buzzsaw guitar tone, over-the-topness, Maiden-y scales with heavier aggression, etc, still an all-time favorite to this day
Not sure what I'd put for the last two. Arcturus' The Sham Mirrors, Testament's Demonic, Mephisto's S/T, and one of the 87-89 Voivod albums are all solid contenders though.
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no country for old wainds
Active Member
- Nov 23, 2002
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Gateway albums: While not metal albums, I have to mention: Van Halen - (s/t), ACDC - Dirty Deeds, Queen - A Night at the Opera, these albums made me crave something more technical/heavy/progressive, and inspired me as a guitarist. Without these I might not have gotten into:
Black Sabbath - Vol. 4 (HM: Paranoid)
Found this in my mom's record collection as a young lad before I knew what metal was, and it was heavier than anything else she had. Didn't fully get it until I came back to it with fresh ears after getting into the more accessible Paranoid. War Pigs kicked my ass back then, and still does at times. Getting into these early opened my ears to enjoy other traditional metal and stoner doom later in life.
Judas Priest - British Steel (HM: Metal Works)
An uncle of mine was giving up metal to be a folk/blues fanchild (he probably regrets this now), so he gave me his collection of Judas Priest albums. I listened to Metal Works '73-'93 a good bit, and the songs from British Steel stood out the most. Started hearing them on the radio and some 90's cartoons.
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz (HM: Diary of a Madman)
There was a phase where I believed Randy Rhoads to be the goat guitarist. There's still an argument to be made there. His playing and story (along with Joe Satriani and Kirk Hammett's) inspired me to get classically trained on guitar. What budding guitarist didn't learn how to play Crazy Train and think they were hot shit back then?
Metallica - Ride the Lightning (HM: MoP, AJFA, Black Album)
Like most metalheads I went through a huge Metallica phase, they still kick amazing amounts of ass, though the more recent albums are somewhat disappointing compared to what they were. It started with the Black Album for me, but RtL is the one that truly blew me away, it was inaccessible to my young ears at first. When I came to grips with it, it was like a drug and I wanted more, the melodies and harmonies, everything these guys put out in the early days was tight, clever, profound. These albums fostered my love of thrash, and led me to get into bands like
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings (HM: Countdown to Extinction, Rust in Peace)
This was my first Megadeth album, it was all over the radio back then. A much needed island of metal/thrash in a sea of slogging alternative/grunge in the late 90's. That same year I picked up Rust in Peace and Countdown and been a Megadeth fan ever since. Rust in Peace recreated some of that experience of discovering RtL for the first time.
Dream Theater - Images and Words (HM: Awake)
At this point I was getting good at guitar, and started taking lessons. Told my guitar teacher I thought Randy Rhoads, EVH, Kirk Hammett were the best guitarists, and he said no it's this guy named John Petrucci. Who's that? And he introduced me to Dream Theater. Quickly became a fan of these two albums, learned how to play a good deal of I&W on guitar, and it started my love of prog metal.
Symphony X - V (HM: The Odyssey)
These albums were my first foray into neoclassical, and really ingrained my belief in studying classical guitar at the time. I focused hard for a few solid years and learned to sight read, use music theory etc because of musicians like this.
Vektor - Black Future (HM: Outer Isolation)
After a good deal of time away from metal (classical became jazz, became giving up guitar for awhile) this album brought me back and I'm not sure that whole new wave of thrash metal would be as good, or would have developed as far without this album. This revitalized my faith in modern metal, and led me to listen to a whole host of other new bands. A shame they split up. This band had exoplanets of potential.
Death - Symbolic (HM: Atheist - UP)
These albums finally got me into death metal. I had tried unsuccessfully to get the ear for it several times before this. The clever progressive riffs, lyrics with a purpose, and technicality made it easy for someone who was looking to be challenged. Later on Obituary - SWR re-blew my mind with its heaviness.
There's room for one more but, I'll leave it blank for now
Black Sabbath - Vol. 4 (HM: Paranoid)
Found this in my mom's record collection as a young lad before I knew what metal was, and it was heavier than anything else she had. Didn't fully get it until I came back to it with fresh ears after getting into the more accessible Paranoid. War Pigs kicked my ass back then, and still does at times. Getting into these early opened my ears to enjoy other traditional metal and stoner doom later in life.
Judas Priest - British Steel (HM: Metal Works)
An uncle of mine was giving up metal to be a folk/blues fanchild (he probably regrets this now), so he gave me his collection of Judas Priest albums. I listened to Metal Works '73-'93 a good bit, and the songs from British Steel stood out the most. Started hearing them on the radio and some 90's cartoons.
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz (HM: Diary of a Madman)
There was a phase where I believed Randy Rhoads to be the goat guitarist. There's still an argument to be made there. His playing and story (along with Joe Satriani and Kirk Hammett's) inspired me to get classically trained on guitar. What budding guitarist didn't learn how to play Crazy Train and think they were hot shit back then?
Metallica - Ride the Lightning (HM: MoP, AJFA, Black Album)
Like most metalheads I went through a huge Metallica phase, they still kick amazing amounts of ass, though the more recent albums are somewhat disappointing compared to what they were. It started with the Black Album for me, but RtL is the one that truly blew me away, it was inaccessible to my young ears at first. When I came to grips with it, it was like a drug and I wanted more, the melodies and harmonies, everything these guys put out in the early days was tight, clever, profound. These albums fostered my love of thrash, and led me to get into bands like
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings (HM: Countdown to Extinction, Rust in Peace)
This was my first Megadeth album, it was all over the radio back then. A much needed island of metal/thrash in a sea of slogging alternative/grunge in the late 90's. That same year I picked up Rust in Peace and Countdown and been a Megadeth fan ever since. Rust in Peace recreated some of that experience of discovering RtL for the first time.
Dream Theater - Images and Words (HM: Awake)
At this point I was getting good at guitar, and started taking lessons. Told my guitar teacher I thought Randy Rhoads, EVH, Kirk Hammett were the best guitarists, and he said no it's this guy named John Petrucci. Who's that? And he introduced me to Dream Theater. Quickly became a fan of these two albums, learned how to play a good deal of I&W on guitar, and it started my love of prog metal.
Symphony X - V (HM: The Odyssey)
These albums were my first foray into neoclassical, and really ingrained my belief in studying classical guitar at the time. I focused hard for a few solid years and learned to sight read, use music theory etc because of musicians like this.
Vektor - Black Future (HM: Outer Isolation)
After a good deal of time away from metal (classical became jazz, became giving up guitar for awhile) this album brought me back and I'm not sure that whole new wave of thrash metal would be as good, or would have developed as far without this album. This revitalized my faith in modern metal, and led me to listen to a whole host of other new bands. A shame they split up. This band had exoplanets of potential.
Death - Symbolic (HM: Atheist - UP)
These albums finally got me into death metal. I had tried unsuccessfully to get the ear for it several times before this. The clever progressive riffs, lyrics with a purpose, and technicality made it easy for someone who was looking to be challenged. Later on Obituary - SWR re-blew my mind with its heaviness.
There's room for one more but, I'll leave it blank for now
crimsonfloyd
Active Member
Korn- Issues: First metal album I bought when I was 13. Yeah I know... nu metal sucks, all that... but this was the first heavier band I got into.
Black Sabbath- Paranoid: Probably about 14. My mom heard me listening to all this nu metal and encouraged me to check out Black Sabbath. This started to expand my view of what metal could do. Thanks mom!
My Dying Bride- The Angel and the Dark River: Age 16. This was my first underground metal album. I loved the use of violin and piano and the gothic motifs, but at this point I was still a little off-put by growling. Started to get into modern doom metal after this.
Opeth- Still Life: Age 16. My first extreme metal album. As I was already a big fan of prog at the time, this band served as a great gateway for me. I became obsessed with this band and actually is how I found this message board.
Century Black Firestarter Compilation: Age 17. This $3 comp. included a ton of black metal bands I would get into over the next few years and I would listen to this thing every day walking to and from school for a few months. Definitely my gateway into black metal.
Emperor- Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk: Age 17. The first black metal album I got hooked to and after this, I was fully conditioned to extreme metal.
Agalloch- The Mantle. Age 17.
Burzum- Hvis Lyset Tar Oss. Age 18.
I’ll put these two together. I don’t think these albums really pushed my musical taste in any new directions, but these were the records that reached me and a personal and existential level. I would still say they, along with some texts by Nietzsche and Heidegger most shape how I think about the human condition in the modern world.
Judas Priest- Sad Wings of Destiny: Mid 20s. I had been into Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, but this was the album that really got me into traditional heavy metal and the more classic stuff from the 70s and 80s. And it’s arguably the greatest metal album ever, so there’s that.
Blind Guardian- Imaginations from the Other Side: Early 30s. I had always trashed on power metal, but as the line between traditional and power began to grey for me, I finally decided to give power metal a fair chance. This was my gateway and now I listen to a lot of power metal.
Honorable mentions to:
Metallica- ...and Justice for All- got me listening to thrash
Cryptopsy- None So Vile- got me listening to more extreme death metal
Black Sabbath- Paranoid: Probably about 14. My mom heard me listening to all this nu metal and encouraged me to check out Black Sabbath. This started to expand my view of what metal could do. Thanks mom!
My Dying Bride- The Angel and the Dark River: Age 16. This was my first underground metal album. I loved the use of violin and piano and the gothic motifs, but at this point I was still a little off-put by growling. Started to get into modern doom metal after this.
Opeth- Still Life: Age 16. My first extreme metal album. As I was already a big fan of prog at the time, this band served as a great gateway for me. I became obsessed with this band and actually is how I found this message board.
Century Black Firestarter Compilation: Age 17. This $3 comp. included a ton of black metal bands I would get into over the next few years and I would listen to this thing every day walking to and from school for a few months. Definitely my gateway into black metal.
Emperor- Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk: Age 17. The first black metal album I got hooked to and after this, I was fully conditioned to extreme metal.
Agalloch- The Mantle. Age 17.
Burzum- Hvis Lyset Tar Oss. Age 18.
I’ll put these two together. I don’t think these albums really pushed my musical taste in any new directions, but these were the records that reached me and a personal and existential level. I would still say they, along with some texts by Nietzsche and Heidegger most shape how I think about the human condition in the modern world.
Judas Priest- Sad Wings of Destiny: Mid 20s. I had been into Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, but this was the album that really got me into traditional heavy metal and the more classic stuff from the 70s and 80s. And it’s arguably the greatest metal album ever, so there’s that.
Blind Guardian- Imaginations from the Other Side: Early 30s. I had always trashed on power metal, but as the line between traditional and power began to grey for me, I finally decided to give power metal a fair chance. This was my gateway and now I listen to a lot of power metal.
Honorable mentions to:
Metallica- ...and Justice for All- got me listening to thrash
Cryptopsy- None So Vile- got me listening to more extreme death metal
mutantllama
Active Member
Metallica-Ride the Lightning/Master of Puppets-I first got into the Black album, wanted more, checked out Ride the Lightning on one of those cd samplers at the music store, instantly fell in love with the first half of the album, asked for it for my birthday and my brother ended up getting me Master of Puppets instead which I fell in love with.
Black Sabbath-Paranoid-Got into this right around the same time I got into Metallica's 80s albums, I also remember hearing Iron Man as little kid but didn't know who wrote it.
Pantera- Vulgar Display of Power- Again, got into this album through my brother, I remember feeling like a tough guy riding my bike around listening to Walk when I was in middle school.
Dio-Holy Diver-First traditional metal album I ever got into, loved everything about it. Again got into it through my brother
Slayer-Hell Awaits-First metal album that I got into without my brother, I was so blown away by Slayer, it was like Metallica but even crazier, felt so fucking cool listening to them in middle school haha, while all the goth hot topic kids were listening to Slipknot and Korn I was listening to Slayer!
Morbid Angel-Covenant-First extreme metal band I got into, again was blown away by how heavy they were, got into them through UM in 2005
Darkthrone-A Blaze in the Northern Sky-First black metal album I got into, at this point i was freshman in high school, didn't have many friends because i just moved from Connecticunt to Maine, and listened to it walking around the yard on a snowy day.
Manowar-Battle Hymns-first epic metal album I ever listened to, loved the title track so much.
Iced Earth-Night of the Storm Rider-First power metal album I got into, got into right around the time I got into Manowar
Manilla Road-Open the Gates-This to me sounded like Manowar, but dreamier, now my favorite
band of all time
Candlemass-Nightfall-First doom album i got into
I got into a lot metal through this forum when I was a teenager.
Black Sabbath-Paranoid-Got into this right around the same time I got into Metallica's 80s albums, I also remember hearing Iron Man as little kid but didn't know who wrote it.
Pantera- Vulgar Display of Power- Again, got into this album through my brother, I remember feeling like a tough guy riding my bike around listening to Walk when I was in middle school.
Dio-Holy Diver-First traditional metal album I ever got into, loved everything about it. Again got into it through my brother
Slayer-Hell Awaits-First metal album that I got into without my brother, I was so blown away by Slayer, it was like Metallica but even crazier, felt so fucking cool listening to them in middle school haha, while all the goth hot topic kids were listening to Slipknot and Korn I was listening to Slayer!
Morbid Angel-Covenant-First extreme metal band I got into, again was blown away by how heavy they were, got into them through UM in 2005
Darkthrone-A Blaze in the Northern Sky-First black metal album I got into, at this point i was freshman in high school, didn't have many friends because i just moved from Connecticunt to Maine, and listened to it walking around the yard on a snowy day.
Manowar-Battle Hymns-first epic metal album I ever listened to, loved the title track so much.
Iced Earth-Night of the Storm Rider-First power metal album I got into, got into right around the time I got into Manowar
Manilla Road-Open the Gates-This to me sounded like Manowar, but dreamier, now my favorite
band of all time
Candlemass-Nightfall-First doom album i got into
I got into a lot metal through this forum when I was a teenager.
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zerostatic
Damned in Flames
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
One of the few metal albums in my parents collection. Got me into Sabbath and is still one of my favorite albums.
Metallica - Kill em All/Master of Puppets
Don't remember which one I got into first, but I remember listening to them at a friends house after school and being blown away by the attitude and the speed.
Fear Factory - Demanufacture
They had a couple songs on the soundtrack to Test Drive 5 on PS1. This was a gateway album that got me into listening to a lot of nu-metal.
Sepultura - Schizophrenia
The first thrash metal album that I bought that wasn't from the Big 4. Finally got to see this band live a few years ago back at Rock in Rio.
Exodus - Bonded by Blood
First listened to this after seeing Warbringer, Exodus, and Kreator live about a decade ago. Got me back into metal after I stopped paying attention to the scene for a few years. I remember a friend who recommended the album was shocked I wasn't familiar with it, but also a little envious that I was going to listen to it for the first time.
Vader - Litany
After Napster got shut down I started using Audio Galaxy and remember someone shared a bunch of Vader songs. My gateway into death metal.
Children of Bodom - Follow the Reaper
My younger brother had Hatebreeder and I loved that. I immediately bought this upon its release and listened to it over and over again. Listening to it now reminds me of my college years.
Cannibal Corpse - The Wretched Spawn
Another album that got me into death metal. I remember watching the making of the album video and was impressed by the technical ability of the guitar, bass, and drummer.
Judas Priest - Stained Class
I got a free ticket see JP play at the Hard Rock Hotel along with Black Label Society and Thin Lizzy. I was only familiar with their pop songs that get some play on the radio. I had a Zune membership and was able to download and stream albums so I downloaded their albums and started going through them. This one stood out above the rest and remains a favorite to this day.
Macabre - Sinister Slaughter
First started listening to Macabre back around 2011 before seeing them play a show with Exhumed. Hearing the songs of some of the Chicago land murders reminded me of Shotgun Peterson terrorized northern Indiana when I was like in 4th grade. I remember the news story that inspired White Hen Decapitator. At my shitty job in college a coworker told me a story about a relative who testified at Richard Speck's trial. I have come to love Macabre and consider Dahmer their greatest album.
One of the few metal albums in my parents collection. Got me into Sabbath and is still one of my favorite albums.
Metallica - Kill em All/Master of Puppets
Don't remember which one I got into first, but I remember listening to them at a friends house after school and being blown away by the attitude and the speed.
Fear Factory - Demanufacture
They had a couple songs on the soundtrack to Test Drive 5 on PS1. This was a gateway album that got me into listening to a lot of nu-metal.
Sepultura - Schizophrenia
The first thrash metal album that I bought that wasn't from the Big 4. Finally got to see this band live a few years ago back at Rock in Rio.
Exodus - Bonded by Blood
First listened to this after seeing Warbringer, Exodus, and Kreator live about a decade ago. Got me back into metal after I stopped paying attention to the scene for a few years. I remember a friend who recommended the album was shocked I wasn't familiar with it, but also a little envious that I was going to listen to it for the first time.
Vader - Litany
After Napster got shut down I started using Audio Galaxy and remember someone shared a bunch of Vader songs. My gateway into death metal.
Children of Bodom - Follow the Reaper
My younger brother had Hatebreeder and I loved that. I immediately bought this upon its release and listened to it over and over again. Listening to it now reminds me of my college years.
Cannibal Corpse - The Wretched Spawn
Another album that got me into death metal. I remember watching the making of the album video and was impressed by the technical ability of the guitar, bass, and drummer.
Judas Priest - Stained Class
I got a free ticket see JP play at the Hard Rock Hotel along with Black Label Society and Thin Lizzy. I was only familiar with their pop songs that get some play on the radio. I had a Zune membership and was able to download and stream albums so I downloaded their albums and started going through them. This one stood out above the rest and remains a favorite to this day.
Macabre - Sinister Slaughter
First started listening to Macabre back around 2011 before seeing them play a show with Exhumed. Hearing the songs of some of the Chicago land murders reminded me of Shotgun Peterson terrorized northern Indiana when I was like in 4th grade. I remember the news story that inspired White Hen Decapitator. At my shitty job in college a coworker told me a story about a relative who testified at Richard Speck's trial. I have come to love Macabre and consider Dahmer their greatest album.
Krow
Garbage Connoisseur
Thought about this entirely too hard
earliest years
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
I have a really cool memory of this being in my grandma’s basement on 8-track. It belonged to one of my uncles I’m sure. I was probably 11 or 12 and had just never heard anything like this.
Metallica - ...And Justice For All/The Black Album
My dad loved Metallica and these were his favorites. He only ever had a cassette player and these fuckin rocked in the Sunbird.
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Man Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 brings back some really good memories. When Ace of Spades fired up it was a pure blast of adrenaline. Hell, it still is today.
middle school era
White Zombie - La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol 1/Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe
These came from watching Beavis and Butthead. I was already into horror movies at this age and I just ate this stuff up. Pretty sure this is where I learned to headbang.
limewire era
Cannibal Corpse - Tomb of the Mutilated
I had some family stuff going on around this time in my life and I had a bit of a hatred for humanity going on. The gore really fueled my teenage angst. My family all shared a computer and I had a long weird talk with my father when he found this album on it.
Amon Amarth - With Oden on Our Side
I did know a couple death metal albums at this time but from the first time I heard Valhall Awaits Me and I could fucking sing along I was hooked.
Electric Wizard - Dopethrone
This was just the fucking heaviest thing I’ve ever heard.
Ghoul - Maniaxe
horror. Death. Speed. Gore. Everything I was obsessed with as a teenager all on one record label. I was in love with Razorback records at first sight. This is probably still my favorite album on the label.
earliest years
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
I have a really cool memory of this being in my grandma’s basement on 8-track. It belonged to one of my uncles I’m sure. I was probably 11 or 12 and had just never heard anything like this.
Metallica - ...And Justice For All/The Black Album
My dad loved Metallica and these were his favorites. He only ever had a cassette player and these fuckin rocked in the Sunbird.
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Man Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 brings back some really good memories. When Ace of Spades fired up it was a pure blast of adrenaline. Hell, it still is today.
middle school era
White Zombie - La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol 1/Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe
These came from watching Beavis and Butthead. I was already into horror movies at this age and I just ate this stuff up. Pretty sure this is where I learned to headbang.
limewire era
Cannibal Corpse - Tomb of the Mutilated
I had some family stuff going on around this time in my life and I had a bit of a hatred for humanity going on. The gore really fueled my teenage angst. My family all shared a computer and I had a long weird talk with my father when he found this album on it.
Amon Amarth - With Oden on Our Side
I did know a couple death metal albums at this time but from the first time I heard Valhall Awaits Me and I could fucking sing along I was hooked.
Electric Wizard - Dopethrone
This was just the fucking heaviest thing I’ve ever heard.
Ghoul - Maniaxe
horror. Death. Speed. Gore. Everything I was obsessed with as a teenager all on one record label. I was in love with Razorback records at first sight. This is probably still my favorite album on the label.
Bloopy
Active Member
Metallica - Reload
Metallica - ...And Justice for All
First two metal albums I heard. I really had no idea about all the sorts of music out there and some classmates just told me about Metallica specifically. I'd heard a few songs from Soundgarden but I hated them at first. Reload established that I was gonna like that stuff at the mild end of the metal scale after all - Alice in Chains, Danzig and so on. Meanwhile, Justice was the gateway to everything heavier.
I could name punk album Big Blue Blanket - Everytime You Smile as a gateway too. It's the first album I liked where only half of the lyrics are decipherable due to the singing style. It was a band local to my uncle. He gifted the CD to my sister and I disliked it at first. I guess I had to hear Metallica first, and then I was surprised to come back to Big Blue Blanket and like them. It's not your ordinary punk. It's ska-influenced in places but often downbeat with longish brooding songs in the 4½-6½ minute range (the last track is 10 minutes but the majority of that is a couple of hidden songs that segue together).
Metallica - Garage Inc. - Still on my beginnings starting with Metallica and can't go past this either. All the bands they covered were new to me apart from Queen and Lynyrd Skynyrd. So this was my introduction to Diamond Head, Budgie, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, NWOBHM in general and more. Even the bands only mentioned in the liner notes such as Bow Wow and Paralex became something for me to seek out.
Then the mp3 explosion happened... but aside from still buying CDs, I wasn't usually checking out full albums due to dial-up speed and limited hard drive space. So it's hard to know what to name next. There'll be albums I name where I only heard part of them at first and then the full thing years later.
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath - Gateway to doom, checking out Candlemass, Electric Wizard etc. and later the local stoner/doom scene.
Sticky Filth - Archives - A compilation from a punk band, but some really metallic songs such as Witch Hazel, spun this heaps. One of my gateways to bands crossing over the punk/metal divide - Plasmatics, English Dogs, The Accüsed etc.
Mercyful Fate - Melissa - A gateway to more extreme things.
Girlschool - Hit and Run - Favourite album from the NWOBHM which became a big deal for me so I'll give this a mention. They didn't get me into female-fronted bands as much as The Runaways/Joan Jett, but still a factor.
Black Boned Angel - Supereclipse - Drone metal, my gateway to bands with hour-long doom or experimental songs, and probably instrumental post-metal somewhat too. Heard the altered reissue first like most people would've.
It's hard to cover everything. Guess I'll throw some death metal in and go with Ulcerate - Everything Is Fire. Not that I hadn't been entertained by death metal albums before, but it was a turning point where one that I seriously gave a fuck about came along and I got more interested in the subgenre. I'd enjoyed Grave and Morbid Angel live somewhat, but only knew one album from each of them and hadn't been inclined to check out more.
Metallica - ...And Justice for All
First two metal albums I heard. I really had no idea about all the sorts of music out there and some classmates just told me about Metallica specifically. I'd heard a few songs from Soundgarden but I hated them at first. Reload established that I was gonna like that stuff at the mild end of the metal scale after all - Alice in Chains, Danzig and so on. Meanwhile, Justice was the gateway to everything heavier.
I could name punk album Big Blue Blanket - Everytime You Smile as a gateway too. It's the first album I liked where only half of the lyrics are decipherable due to the singing style. It was a band local to my uncle. He gifted the CD to my sister and I disliked it at first. I guess I had to hear Metallica first, and then I was surprised to come back to Big Blue Blanket and like them. It's not your ordinary punk. It's ska-influenced in places but often downbeat with longish brooding songs in the 4½-6½ minute range (the last track is 10 minutes but the majority of that is a couple of hidden songs that segue together).
Metallica - Garage Inc. - Still on my beginnings starting with Metallica and can't go past this either. All the bands they covered were new to me apart from Queen and Lynyrd Skynyrd. So this was my introduction to Diamond Head, Budgie, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, NWOBHM in general and more. Even the bands only mentioned in the liner notes such as Bow Wow and Paralex became something for me to seek out.
Then the mp3 explosion happened... but aside from still buying CDs, I wasn't usually checking out full albums due to dial-up speed and limited hard drive space. So it's hard to know what to name next. There'll be albums I name where I only heard part of them at first and then the full thing years later.
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath - Gateway to doom, checking out Candlemass, Electric Wizard etc. and later the local stoner/doom scene.
Sticky Filth - Archives - A compilation from a punk band, but some really metallic songs such as Witch Hazel, spun this heaps. One of my gateways to bands crossing over the punk/metal divide - Plasmatics, English Dogs, The Accüsed etc.
Mercyful Fate - Melissa - A gateway to more extreme things.
Girlschool - Hit and Run - Favourite album from the NWOBHM which became a big deal for me so I'll give this a mention. They didn't get me into female-fronted bands as much as The Runaways/Joan Jett, but still a factor.
Black Boned Angel - Supereclipse - Drone metal, my gateway to bands with hour-long doom or experimental songs, and probably instrumental post-metal somewhat too. Heard the altered reissue first like most people would've.
It's hard to cover everything. Guess I'll throw some death metal in and go with Ulcerate - Everything Is Fire. Not that I hadn't been entertained by death metal albums before, but it was a turning point where one that I seriously gave a fuck about came along and I got more interested in the subgenre. I'd enjoyed Grave and Morbid Angel live somewhat, but only knew one album from each of them and hadn't been inclined to check out more.
challenge_everything
Active Member
Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow... I listened to a lot of punk in my teenage years and ST were a bridge into metal.
Metallica - ...And Justice for All - I'd always liked Metallica but something about this album really grabbed me after I borrowed it from a friend. People shit on the production but I love it... it sounded cold and ruthless.
My Dying Bride - The Angel and the Dark River - curiously similar to crimsonfloyd, I picked this up randomly at a record store because I was listening to lots of gloomy rock at the time and this just blew me away with how next level it was in terms of sheer oppressiveness. Possibly the first time I enjoyed an album with growls and still listen to this a lot.
Slipknot - s/t - My mates played this album a hell of a lot in high school. The drumming on this album opened my eyes a lot as to the possibilities.
Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk and
Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun
Not entirely sure of the order but these were the first two albums to get me hooked on black metal.
Opeth - Blackwater Park - i got this album shortly after it came out and its scope was like nothing I'd ever heard. I played the shit out of it and I don't think I've ever been so obsessed with an album since.
At the Gates - The Red in the Sky is Ours - I used to associate death metal with stuff like Cannibal Corpse which I regarded as silly and immature. I got this album early on after moderately enjoying Slaughter of the Soul but this sounded like a completely different band. It took me a while to get past the raspy vocals on this but the music, wow, it seemed so intricate yet thoughtfully composed. Still in my top 5 death metal albums.
Metallica - ...And Justice for All - I'd always liked Metallica but something about this album really grabbed me after I borrowed it from a friend. People shit on the production but I love it... it sounded cold and ruthless.
My Dying Bride - The Angel and the Dark River - curiously similar to crimsonfloyd, I picked this up randomly at a record store because I was listening to lots of gloomy rock at the time and this just blew me away with how next level it was in terms of sheer oppressiveness. Possibly the first time I enjoyed an album with growls and still listen to this a lot.
Slipknot - s/t - My mates played this album a hell of a lot in high school. The drumming on this album opened my eyes a lot as to the possibilities.
Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk and
Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun
Not entirely sure of the order but these were the first two albums to get me hooked on black metal.
Opeth - Blackwater Park - i got this album shortly after it came out and its scope was like nothing I'd ever heard. I played the shit out of it and I don't think I've ever been so obsessed with an album since.
At the Gates - The Red in the Sky is Ours - I used to associate death metal with stuff like Cannibal Corpse which I regarded as silly and immature. I got this album early on after moderately enjoying Slaughter of the Soul but this sounded like a completely different band. It took me a while to get past the raspy vocals on this but the music, wow, it seemed so intricate yet thoughtfully composed. Still in my top 5 death metal albums.
no country for old wainds
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the epic and heroic story of no country for old wainds, as told through his GMD lists:
2002 - 'most powerful metal songs':
Metallica - One
Slayer - Die by the Sword
Slayer - Raining Blood
Pantera - Walk
jan 2003 - 'favourite bands':
OPETH!!!!
Katatonia
Slayer
Anthrax
Metallica (old)
Pantera
Judas Priest
Black Sabbath
Cathedral
Children of Bodom
aug 2003 - 'favourite bands':
1. Opeth
2. Katatonia
3. My Dying Bride
4. Metallica
5. Anathema
6. At The Gates
7. Iced Earth
8. Emperor
9. Ancalagon
10. Dark Tranquillity
june 2004 - 'metal masterpieces':
The Chasm - Deathcult for Eternity: The Triumph
The Chasm - Conjuration of a Spectral Empire
Eucharist - A Velvet Creation
Amorphis - The Karelian Isthmus
Demilich - Nespithe
At the Gates - The Red in the Sky is Ours (and first half of WF...)
Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
Arghoslent - Incorrigible Bigotry
Demigod - Slumber of Sullen Eyes
Fleshcrawl - Descend into the Absurd
Graveland - Thousand Swords
Moonblood - Blut und Krieg
Burzum - Filosofem
Burzum - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss
Beherit - Drawing Down the Moon
Wolfnacht - Heidentum
The Shadow Order - Raise the Banners
Darkthrone - Under A Funeral Moon
Deathspell Omega - Si Monvmentvm Circvmspice (fuck, this is just hitting me properly)
Fullmoon - United Aryan Evil
Sacramentum - Far Away From The Sun
Summoning - Dol Guldur
august 2004 - 'current top 5 albums'
Nokturnal Mortum - Goat Horns
The Chasm - Deathcult for Eternity: The Triumph
Aeternus - Beyond the Wandering Moon
These are the big three of the moment.
sep 2005 - 'fav classic metal albums'
Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding
Bruce Dickinson - Skunkworks
Bruce Dickinson - Tyranny of Souls
Death SS - The Story of 1977-1984
Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
Fireaxe - Food for the Gods
Helstar - Nosferatu
Holocaust - The Nightcomers
Judas Priest - Stained Class
Pagan Altar - Volume One
Quartz - Satan's Serenade
Satan - Court in the Act
jul 2006 - 'top ten metal songs'
burzum - det som en gang var
sacramentum - cries from a restless soul
graveland - to die in fight
dark tribe - in jeraspunta...
the chasm - a portal to nowhere
the chasm - travelling through chaos
at the gates - within
at the gates - the break of autumn
at the gates - primal breath
summoning - nightshade forests
april 2009 - 'top 5 non-metal albums of all time'
mad river - s/t
captain beyond - s/t
radiohead - kid a
the cure - pornography
arcade fire - funeral
dec 2009 - 'favourite bands'
mad river
nobuo
early atg
the chasm
radiohead circa kid a
the gun club
slayer
warning
jag panzer/satan's host (i'm allowed to do this)
arch-era fates warning
manilla road
sacramentum
elend
july 2015 - 'all-time favourite metal albums'
adramelch - irae melanox
at the gates - the red in the sky is ours
the chasm - deathcult for eternity: the triumph
fates warning - awaken the guardian
fates warning - the spectre within
harvey milk - a small turn of human kindness
jag panzer - ample destruction
sacramentum - far away from the sun
slayer - hell awaits
warning - watching from a distance
+
at the gates - with fear i kiss the burning darkness
burzum - hvis lyset tar oss
cirith ungol - king of the dead
darkthrone - under a funeral moon
saint vitus - saint vitus
oct 2015 - 'non-metal'
1) elend - the umbersun
2) mad river - s/t
3) the velvet underground - the velvet underground
4) bjork - vespertine
5) dylan - highway 61
singles:
1) lee moses - bad girl
2) dicks - hate the police
3) the clash - train in vain
4) jackson 5 - want you back
5) misfits - cough/cool (+she)
now
only richard dawson's PEASANT is real
2002 - 'most powerful metal songs':
Metallica - One
Slayer - Die by the Sword
Slayer - Raining Blood
Pantera - Walk
jan 2003 - 'favourite bands':
OPETH!!!!
Katatonia
Slayer
Anthrax
Metallica (old)
Pantera
Judas Priest
Black Sabbath
Cathedral
Children of Bodom
aug 2003 - 'favourite bands':
1. Opeth
2. Katatonia
3. My Dying Bride
4. Metallica
5. Anathema
6. At The Gates
7. Iced Earth
8. Emperor
9. Ancalagon
10. Dark Tranquillity
june 2004 - 'metal masterpieces':
The Chasm - Deathcult for Eternity: The Triumph
The Chasm - Conjuration of a Spectral Empire
Eucharist - A Velvet Creation
Amorphis - The Karelian Isthmus
Demilich - Nespithe
At the Gates - The Red in the Sky is Ours (and first half of WF...)
Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
Arghoslent - Incorrigible Bigotry
Demigod - Slumber of Sullen Eyes
Fleshcrawl - Descend into the Absurd
Graveland - Thousand Swords
Moonblood - Blut und Krieg
Burzum - Filosofem
Burzum - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss
Beherit - Drawing Down the Moon
Wolfnacht - Heidentum
The Shadow Order - Raise the Banners
Darkthrone - Under A Funeral Moon
Deathspell Omega - Si Monvmentvm Circvmspice (fuck, this is just hitting me properly)
Fullmoon - United Aryan Evil
Sacramentum - Far Away From The Sun
Summoning - Dol Guldur
august 2004 - 'current top 5 albums'
Nokturnal Mortum - Goat Horns
The Chasm - Deathcult for Eternity: The Triumph
Aeternus - Beyond the Wandering Moon
These are the big three of the moment.
sep 2005 - 'fav classic metal albums'
Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding
Bruce Dickinson - Skunkworks
Bruce Dickinson - Tyranny of Souls
Death SS - The Story of 1977-1984
Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
Fireaxe - Food for the Gods
Helstar - Nosferatu
Holocaust - The Nightcomers
Judas Priest - Stained Class
Pagan Altar - Volume One
Quartz - Satan's Serenade
Satan - Court in the Act
jul 2006 - 'top ten metal songs'
burzum - det som en gang var
sacramentum - cries from a restless soul
graveland - to die in fight
dark tribe - in jeraspunta...
the chasm - a portal to nowhere
the chasm - travelling through chaos
at the gates - within
at the gates - the break of autumn
at the gates - primal breath
summoning - nightshade forests
april 2009 - 'top 5 non-metal albums of all time'
mad river - s/t
captain beyond - s/t
radiohead - kid a
the cure - pornography
arcade fire - funeral
dec 2009 - 'favourite bands'
mad river
nobuo
early atg
the chasm
radiohead circa kid a
the gun club
slayer
warning
jag panzer/satan's host (i'm allowed to do this)
arch-era fates warning
manilla road
sacramentum
elend
july 2015 - 'all-time favourite metal albums'
adramelch - irae melanox
at the gates - the red in the sky is ours
the chasm - deathcult for eternity: the triumph
fates warning - awaken the guardian
fates warning - the spectre within
harvey milk - a small turn of human kindness
jag panzer - ample destruction
sacramentum - far away from the sun
slayer - hell awaits
warning - watching from a distance
+
at the gates - with fear i kiss the burning darkness
burzum - hvis lyset tar oss
cirith ungol - king of the dead
darkthrone - under a funeral moon
saint vitus - saint vitus
oct 2015 - 'non-metal'
1) elend - the umbersun
2) mad river - s/t
3) the velvet underground - the velvet underground
4) bjork - vespertine
5) dylan - highway 61
singles:
1) lee moses - bad girl
2) dicks - hate the police
3) the clash - train in vain
4) jackson 5 - want you back
5) misfits - cough/cool (+she)
now
only richard dawson's PEASANT is real
Vegard Pompey
ALLY TO GOOD, NIGHTMARE TO YOU
I'm wondering what happened between 2003 and 2004. Is that when the in-crowd abducted and brainwashed you?
no country for old wainds
Active Member
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TechnicalBarbarity
Poser Disposer
*fixed for you.
this was pretty much my introduction to metal back in 90-91 when one of my older cousins gave me his cassette tape of the single.
... not my actual tape. Those were all devoured by one of my ex-tramps. Think i'll hit up ebay and see if i can find a copy.
no country for old wainds
Active Member
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i actually got into metallica because of 'the unforgiven ii' lol. happened to get reload from the local library and while i didn't care for it that song grabbed me, decided to get the black album and it completely blew my mind, i must've listened to it about 50 times while on vacation in scotland. MOP and AJFA soon followed and i was obsessed.
TechnicalBarbarity
Poser Disposer
no country for old wainds
Active Member
- Nov 23, 2002
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HamburgerBoy
Active Member
- Sep 16, 2007
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One of the songs that really helped get me into metal was that Warcraft 3 'Power of the Horde' or whatever it was titled song tbh
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