Traditional Metal: When Less = More

[JayKeeley]

Thread Alert: No death, no black, no core, no 'extreme'. Cool? OK...

Obviously with me having King Diamond at my #2 spot, I've been listening to "The Puppet Master" a lot recently. All that brilliant guitar work by LaRocque and Wead gives me a craving for some more traditional metal. You know, clean vox, crunching riffs, soaring harmonies, solos, and the like. It's the balls to the wall!! \m/

So what are some of your favorite *not so obvious* traditional metal albums? [You know, trying to avoid the "it goes without saying" of including Maiden and Priest albums.]

Here's a few that never seem to get old (catchy riffs and tunes):

ANGRA - Rebirth (I think after Matos left, they produced their best album)
MEGADETH - Rust In Peace (can speed metal get any better?)
BLIND GUARDIAN - Nightfall in Middle Earth (The Silmarillion put to music!)
SAVATAGE - Gutter Ballet (*premature ejaculate gush*)
EDGUY - Mandrake (when Maiden retire, Edguy will make everything ok again)
MERCYFUL FATE - Don't Break the Oath (evil and happy)
EVERGREY - Solitude Dominance Tragedy (just for "Nosferatu" alone, jeez)
GAMMA RAY - Land of the Free (anthem after anthem after anthem)
BRUCE DICKINSON - The Chemical Wedding (the. best. of. the. lot)

 

[NAD]

Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2

Beating a dead horse at this point, but even though this album is still very new, it really doesn't get any better, and it exemplifies everything I want out of traditional metal: incredible riffs, awesome guitar solos, great vocals, a killer rhythm section, and a perfect "fuck you" attitude.

Machine Head - The More Things Change

Everyone gives credit to Burn My Eyes, but I think MH really hit their opus with this one. No frills and nothing special, just pure, unadulterated metal with some of the most emotional playing I've ever heard.

Sacred Reich - Independent

Some of my favorite riffs ever done are present on this album, just mid-tempo riff after riff after riff. Never Said Goodbye is one of the few ballads that doesn't come off as cheesy either.

 

[ChiefB]

That's a great list you put together.

I think I can only add:

Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime (Metal version of a quasi Orwellian '1984')
Dream Theatre - Scenes of a Memory (Kennedy-esq Thriller)

Both are just awesome albums that just blow me away.

 

[Erik]

Mhm. "The Chemical Wedding" is the best heavy metal album ever made. Step aside Iron Maiden.

BLIND GUARDIAN - Nightfall in Middle Earth (The Silmarillion put to music!)

It's teh ghey. I had it once because I got it for free, but I sold it for $3 or so. Give me Summoning any day. (EDIT: Oh shit, broke the thread rules did I? Heheh)

 

[JayKeeley]

It's teh ghey. I had it once because I got it for free, but I sold it for $3 or so. Give me Summoning any day. (EDIT: Oh shit, broke the thread rules did I? Heheh)

I really like Blind Guardian. At one time, Hansi Kursch was one of my favourite vocalists. I really like Summoning too, but I hardly ever pull their CD's from the shelf, except maybe Dol Guldur.

Can't believe I forgot Operation Mindcrime. Chris DeGarmo was so great once upon a time.

 

[NAD]

BLIND GUARDIAN - Nightfall in Middle Earth (The Silmarillion put to music!)

Why didn't I notice that description until Erik made fun of it?! You're right, I do need that album.

= rules

 

[NAD]

Can't believe I forgot Operation Mindcrime. Chris DeGarmo was so great once upon a time.

You know that Chris DeGarmo is on that Jerry Cantrell album?

 

[JayKeeley]

Let me put it this way: in terms of traditional metal, it's a 10/10. And so is Imaginations from the Other Side. And probably A Night at the Opera. Blind Guardian are one of the greatest bands out there.

Not many people from the RC world would disagree: Gugs, Dark One, Demonspell, Chief B, Smothered Hope, General Zod. EDIT: and BloodFireDeath! Most of us saw them live in NY last year - how time flies. And some of us saw them at ProgPower III.

...which reminds me.....SYMPHONY X !!!! Another exceptionally talented band.

 

[JayKeeley]

Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2

Must get this at some point (as long as it falls nowhere near the tip of your willow). Hopefully this thread will turn into a nice recommendation thread. Count Cantrell as '1' for me.

Never Said Goodbye is one of the few ballads that doesn't come off as cheesy either.

Reminds me, what did you ever think of "The Ballad" by Testament? I think it's one of the coolest songs ever. I even remember the video to it, with Chuck Billy looking all moody in that NJ diner. The thing that really makes the song work though is Alex Skolnick. That guitar tone alone....

 

[bloodfiredeath]

Let me put it this way: in terms of traditional metal, it's a 10/10. And so is Imaginations from the Other Side. And probably A Night at the Opera. Blind Guardian are one of the greatest bands out there.

Count me in. Blind Guardian are one of my all-time favorites.

Additions for this thread: Helstar, Metal Church...

 

[Demonspell]

I can still appreciate Blind Guardian, especially IFTOS, but I've been listening to them less frequently lately. And while I won't dsipute that SDT is a great album, I don't see too much adherence to tradition in Evergrey besides the Maiden-inspired guitar harmonies...

 

[JayKeeley]

I can still appreciate Blind Guardian, especially IFTOS, but I've been listening to them less frequently lately.

Yeah me too. Shame that. I think that'll be one new years resolution then.

And while I won't dsipute that SDT is a great album, I don't see too much adherence to tradition in Evergrey besides the Maiden-inspired guitar harmonies...

'Traditional' as in not death, not black, not noise, not grind, not proggy jazz, not avante garde, not viking, not darkwave, not porncore. You know, just regular old heavy metal.

 

[IronmanWhoKills]

BLIND GUARDIAN - Imaginations From The Other Side
BLIND GUARDIAN - NightFall In Middle Earth
NIGHTWISH - Angels Fall First
IRON MAIDEN - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
IRON MAIDEN - Piece of Mind

 

[lizard]

Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous. the roots of Iron Maiden's twin leads are right here.

 

[JayKeeley]

Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous. the roots of Iron Maiden's twin leads are right here.

I used to own a bunch of TL and Gary Moore on tape back in the day. You know, I never owned Live and Dangerous and from what I understand, it's supposed to be one of the better live albums out there. Would you agree?

Also, was it recorded at a time when Moore was still in the band?

 

[lizard]

live and dangerous was still Gorham and Robertson, before Robbo quit and did his ill fated stint with motorhead. I do think its one of the best hard rock live albums ever, Phil Lynott was still in his prime before too much heroin.

the 2nd live album, Life Live was like their farewell and had in addition to Gorham, pre-Whitesnake John Sykes, and cameos with Snowy White, Robertson, Gary Moore and Eric Bell (their original guitarist when they were a three piece). it gets high marks from alot of people; Sykes had really infused the band with his flashy playing (Gorham by now was supposedly a junkie as well)

 

[Black Winter Day]

i don't consider savatage or blind guardian or bruce dickinson or megadeth traditional metal

savatage = best band ever

 

[lizard]

do you have ghost in the ruins? a total chris oliva showcase

 

[JayKeeley]

i don't consider savatage or blind guardian or bruce dickinson or megadeth traditional metal

Just call it heavy metal then. Don't worry about the genre naming convention.

 

[JayKeeley]

do you have ghost in the ruins? a total chris oliva showcase

No I don't! I've seen it a few times - is it good then?