39. Skeletonwitch - Breathing The Fire (2009)
The band who I bought my first pair of booty shorts from, Skeletonwitch are one of my favorite bands, and their brand of blackened thrash annihilates all competition, and theirs a lot of great blackened thrash bands out there. I discovered them the day of my friends play, and before heading to school to go see the play I went out and bought this album and "Beyond the Permafrost". It took me awhile to truly appreciate "Breathing the Fire" though, for awhile I considered Beyond the Permafrost to be the better album, but eventually BtF's cold atmosphere came around and made me blush like a schoolgirl saying "onee-chan". Chance's raspy vocals are fucking perfect, on album and live. They're commanding, understandable, and vicious. Guitars are calculated insanity, which I like a lot, as well as the solos, which they take time to write and make them the best they can be. Songs are concise, punches to the stomach that never feel to short, and never linger, these guys truly have writing songs down to a tee. Last of all, their guitarist Scott Hendricks endorsement of the booty shorts is warranted, they are indeed very comfy.
Favorite Tracks: Submit to the Suffering, Released From the Catacombs, Crushed Beyond Dust, Blinding Black Rage, Gorge Upon My Soul, Repulsive Salvation
38. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
By just a hair my favorite Pantera album Cowboys From Hell, barely nudging out Vulgar Display Of Power, places in at 38. This was the second album with Phil Anselmo, and by the time this album was recorded, his underground extreme metal tastes and influences had started to seep into the band. A HUGE step from Power Metal, Cowboys From Hell is an album chock full of classic tracks, and favorites of mine. Phil Anselmo was recruited for his Halford-esque wails, but brought a gruff, tough vocal style to the band, and he employs both all over this album, Halford-esque rising up especially in Cemetery Gates, and Cowboys From Hell employing his growls that I love. Dimebag Darrell had one of the best tones in Metal and it still is one of the best tones ever, and he really dazzles on this album, from album opener Cowboys From Hell to the beautiful playing and solo of The Sleep. His tone was almost indescribable, but it was like a drill, boring into your ear, leaving a permanent reminder of how awesome it was. Vinnie Paul isn't really extraordinary, and I don't really like him as a person, but his drumming is like Lars Ulrich, it gets the job done and works for the band. Something that sets this from the rest of their albums in my opinion is that while it set them in the direction they went onto in the 90's, there's still flashbacks to their glam metal days, but instead of being groanworthy glam, they meld it flawlessly with their new style and the songs just work. I know for a lot, either Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven are considered their best, and while I love them, Cowboys From Hell just has something that the others don't to me.
Favorite Tracks: Cowboys From Hell, Cemetary Gates, The Sleep, Primal Concrete Sledge