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General => Archive => General Music Archives => Topic started by: adace on May 13, 2012, 12:57:33 PM
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Hey, guys! I’d like to start off by thanking you all for being interested in my picks and I hope my list is interesting/different enough from other lists to hold your attention. After much careful thought and countless sleepless nights painstakingly combing through my Itunes ( ;D), I came up with my top 50 favorite albums ever. I really aimed for variety in my list so with a few exceptions, I will not be listing more than one album from the same band. Except for numbers 1-10, the ordering is fairly interchangeable. Anyways, thanks again and enjoy! (P.S. Round 2 will be coming eventually. Still too many great albums that were left off the top 50).
50. Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe (2008)
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qAEUoNhUJ7E/S9bbcU4wZ3I/AAAAAAAAATk/5a5uio2kwkQ/s1600/15o81vp.jpg)
This is Scar Symmetry’s third album and their last featuring one of the best death metal vocalists of all time, Christian Alvestam. First a little info on the band and their general style: There is no other extreme vocalist out there, save Mikael Akerfeldt, who is able to both give me sheer goosebumps with his clean vocals and fill me with awe at the evil and brutality of his growls. This band is certainly the most accessible death metal band I’ve ever heard. In fact, the first time I heard them, I recoiled at their poppish tendencies. Shortly after that though, I began to appreciate them as innovators in their genre and simply one of the best melodeath bands around..
They have an amazing knack for mixing clean, melodic playing with headbangable metal riffs and drumming all with a progressive twist in terms of occasional odd time signatures. Their production is also top-notch and really adds to the enjoyment of this masterpiece.
All that said, this album is by far their best work in that it combines all these elements into a thoroughly enjoyable package. The lyrics are quite thought-provoking with an interesting blend of sci-fi and philosophy. Per their usual, the choruses are instantly catchy, the riffs are heavy and catchy as well, and the solos are superb. On the whole, this album is a significant step up from both of their previous albums and their two subsequent ones. Compared to more familiar standards in the genre such as Children of Bodom’s “Are You Dead Yet?” and In Flames’ “The Jester Race”, “Holographic Universe” is an often overlooked gem of an album that not only rivals those albums but, in my opinion, bests them. Maybe if Alverstam was invited back into the band then Scar Symmetry could repeat the greatness that is this album but for the time being, check out this unrivalled masterpiece of melodeath if you haven’t already.
Recommended tracks: Morphogenesis, Timewave Zero, Ghost Prototype II, Quantumleaper
49. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
(https://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfalrrSkhK1qzu8ow.jpg)
If there was a single phrase to sum up this band’s sound, it would be “Pink Floyd gone pop.” Of course they are a lot more eccentric than Pink Floyd (at least 70’s and later Pink Floyd) with numerous folk and electronic influences, but I still get the same sense of adventurism and psychedelia with their music. Add to that the fact that covered all of “Dark Side of the Moon” and it’s pretty obvious who they are most musically indebted to.
“Yoshimi” is a concept album about a girl dying of cancer and naturally features themes of death and transcendence in its lyrics. Overall, the album has a very quirky and eccentric feel to it but it’s absolutely beautiful at the same time. Wayne Coyne’s vocals have this amazingly pained yet ethereal quality about them which I can’t imagine The Flaming Lips being without. Point in case is “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” where his vocal delivery is positively hypnotic. Other highlights include “Do You Realize?” which is, as you might know, their most famous song, as well as the beautiful electronic-folk ballad “It’s Summertime.” What this album and band do best is blend the genres of alternative rock, prog rock, space rock, folk, electronic and psychedelia into an amazing, polished product. If you are a fan of any of those genres, then this album should be right up your alley.
Recommended tracks: Do You Realize?, It’s Summertime, Ego Tripping, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
48. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (2000)
(https://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lavchdPgrX1qbaerp.jpg)
Here we have the best rap-metal/nu-metal album of all time. Sure the guitar playing, drumming and lyrics are extremely simplistic compared to RATM for example. And sure I dislike rap as much as most metal fans but for me, Linkin Park is the best band in the genre. They do rap right.
What is the single most impressive element this band has to offer? By far, Chester Bennington’s fantastic vocal abilities. Whether it’s screaming or clean singing, this man can really deliver. Mike Shinoda’s rap parts are also tasteful and blend well with the music and I have no problem rap-dancing along to them (only time you’ll find me doing that). Also, I really admire Joe Hahn as a turntablist/keyboardist on the record since not only does he not overdo the whole record scratching thing, but he really adds to their sound on such tracks as Points of Authority and With You.
I absolutely do not consider this album a “guilty pleasure” even though it falls well outside the genres of the other albums on this list and even though nu-metal has been much maligned. Instead, I consider it thoroughly enjoyable, unforgettable and a staple of the genre. Maybe it didn’t make me an actual rap fan but “Hybrid Theory” showed me that rap definitely has its place in metal and at least deserves our respect if not affection (except gangsta rap, no respect for that at all).
Recommended tracks: Papercut, Points of Authority, Pushing Me Away
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I love Scar Symmetry and especially that album.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is probably one of the coolest album names ever so I'll definitely check them out, the description sparked my interest too.
Never really cared for Linkin Park but I've got nothing against them.
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Only one album per band? That's going to be interesting.
I really have to get into Scar Symmetry, read good stuff about them. The Flaming Lips I know only by name and Linkin Park was one of my favourite bands when I was 10. Nice start, I'll most likely follow.
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:tup Hybrid Theory, one of my early favourites and still an absolute classic and a great and thoroughly consistent album. Agree with what you've written (especially Chester Bennington).
Don't know The Flaming Lips and have only heard a little of Scar Symmetry.
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Cool start, don't really know The Flaming Lips, but the other two are solid albums!
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Cool start, don't really know The Flaming Lips, but the other two are solid albums!
Cool start indeed.
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Okay, just finished listening to Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and it's pretty freaking fantastic.
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Blackwater Park/Still Life is going to be your number one, am i right?
also, you wrote:
"There is no other extreme vocalist out there, save Mikael Akerfeldt, who is able to both give me sheer goosebumps with his clean vocals and fill me with awe at the evil and brutality of his growls."
WHATS ABOUT DEVIN TOWNSEND???
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I don't mind the Flaming Lips, but have found them to be a little too electronic for my taste.
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I can't speak for adace but Devin doesn't sound all that 'evil' to me.
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I can't speak for adace but Devin doesn't sound all that 'evil' to me.
listen to his SYL stuff.
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I can't speak for adace but Devin doesn't sound all that 'evil' to me.
listen to his SYL stuff.
I have.
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Blackwater Park/Still Life is going to be your number one, am i right?
also, you wrote:
"There is no other extreme vocalist out there, save Mikael Akerfeldt, who is able to both give me sheer goosebumps with his clean vocals and fill me with awe at the evil and brutality of his growls."
WHATS ABOUT DEVIN TOWNSEND???
On your first point, you'll just have to wait and see ;)
On your second point, I love Devin for his clean vocals and while his screaming/extreme vocals is great, Christian and Mikael have him far outmatched in that regard.
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Already looking forward to this list; I'm sure it'll be amazing. You have an awesome taste.
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Already looking forward to this list; I'm sure it'll be amazing. You have an awesome taste.
Thanks! I appreciate that :smiley: Your list had a ton of awesome stuff on it btw.
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Holographic Universe is absolutely stellar, great to see it here.
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Following.
Based on this update, it looks like your tastes are all over the grid. Never a bad thing. :tup
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Great call on Yoshimi. :tup
Flaming Lips has proven to be a favorite among the alt/indie/rock-that-is-not-bluesy-prog-or-metal bands I've been binging on lately.
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I haven't heard the first two but i have heard hybrid theory many years ago. I'll be following :tup
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Listening to Holographic Universe now.
Wow. This is much, much better than Dark Matter Dimensions.
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Listening to Holographic Universe now.
Wow. This is much, much better than Dark Matter Dimensions.
I was let down so much by DMD, mainly because HU was so damn good. I've grown to like it a lot, but it's not in the same league as HU.
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DMD was my introduction to the band, so I kinda wrote them off with that.
But I might need to listen to their earlier stuff more...
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HU is the best of the bunch, but others argue that Pitch Black Progress is SS at their best. Their debut is worth a listen too, as is their latest album. DMD is probably the worst place to start with SS.
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HU is the best of the bunch, but others argue that Pitch Black Progress is SS at their best. Their debut is worth a listen too, as is their latest album. DMD is probably the worst place to start with SS.
:lol
Figures.
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True, but I wrote it off just because Christian left and the two new singers were not a match for him, but given time I've grown to appreciate it, and it's pretty damn good. Check out their earlier albums and then come back to DMD, you'll probably find you will appreciate more too.
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HU is the best of the bunch, but others argue that Pitch Black Progress is SS at their best. Their debut is worth a listen too, as is their latest album. DMD is probably the worst place to start with SS.
:lol
Figures.
Well, I started there by accident and what ended up happening is I don't have the dislike for that album that others have...but Holographic Universe is definately the best them.
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47. Devin Townsend - Ghost (2011)
(https://www.freecodesource.com/album-cover/51w8ET7dwpL/Devin-Townsend-Ghost.jpg)
This is Hevy Devy at his most emotionally honest and relaxed frame of mind. Eschewing the heavy guitars and bombastic vocals which are his trademark style, Townsend veers well off the beaten path to create a beautiful, ambient-tinged masterpiece. Of course he has made soft, acoustic songs on previous albums but this is his most focused effort to date in that musical niche. Perhaps the only thing that sounds similar between Ghost and other albums is the epic production that almost smothers the listener in sonic bliss.
Townsend is also known as a master of weaving together disparate genres into a satisfying musical experience and this is no less true on Ghost. Ambient, atmospheric rock is mixed with the gentle sounds of folk in the use of a flute on songs such as “Fly” and there’s even a bit of country on “Blackberry.” This album gives off multiple vibes including delicacy, refinement, fragility and open-heartedness. What really helps build those vibes is Townsend’s voice.
On this album, Townsend proves he is one of the best vocalists in the progressive world or any other musical genre for that matter. His voice flows with the music like a river gently flowing towards some far-off, unknown destination. Townsend proves he is an expert at adapting his voice to the requirements of the music and it is this versatility which is the selling point for me. Perhaps the closest equivalent to this album would be David Gilmour’s “On an Island.” Beyond that, Ghost is a truly unique and beautiful album that deserves to be heard by both Townsend fans and non-Townsend fans alike.
Recommended tracks: Kawaii, Feather, As You Were, Heart Baby
46. Cynic - Traced in Air (2008)
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/storenvy/product_photos/433298/cynic-traced-in-air_original.jpg)
This album is one of the most mature offerings from the death metal genre and the best Cynic album to date. I like Focus very much but it’s the crisp, modern production on Traced In Air that really brings the music to life and makes for a more enjoyable experience. Paul Masvidal’s cosmic philosophy features prominently not only in the beautiful lyrics but in the music itself.
Ethereal, jazz-fusion melodies turn on a dime into heavy, technical riffing yet Paul’s vocoder-filtered vocals are present throughout and make for a interesting contrast. There’s something symbolic about Cynic’s style in that it seems like they try to unite opposites (clean and harsh) into a single entity by moving seamlessly between them. This album and jazz in general are emotionally charged, yet the emotions they portray are ambiguous. It’s almost like Cynic is trying to occupy some sort of space between the unknown and the known. At least that’s how I view the philosophical side of the music. Anways, if you are a fan of technical death metal but also appreciate the beauty of jazz fusion artists such as Allan Holdsworth, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report then I highly recommend this album to you.
Recommended tracks: Adam’s Murmur, Integral Birth, Evolutionary Sleeper
45. The Sword - Age of Winters (2006)
(https://www.classicrockmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/sword-age-of-winters.jpg)
As far as stoner rock goes, one would be hard-pressed to find a more headbangable piece of metallic ear-candy than this album. This album is chock full of heavy-as-lead, bluesy goodness and is stylistically a huge and well-deserved homage to legendary classic bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and especially Black Sabbath. The riffs and solos strike a perfect balance between heaviness and melody while the drumming is absolutely ferocious. As is often the case in stoner rock, the lyrics are quite psychedelic in nature as they speak about mythology/fantasy and that adds a cool and very appropriate twist to the music. Clearly, this is a band that knows what they’re doing and are not just downtuning their guitars purely for the sake of being heavy. If there’s one minor criticism I have, it would be that the vocals are a bit too low in mix (a problem that wouldn’t be remedied until Warp Riders) but that is almost a non-issue compared to the astounding level of musicianship and potential for headbanging found on this record. Here, The Sword prove their metal worth and provide one of the greatest contributions to the stoner-rock and doom metal genres of all time.
Recommended tracks: Freya, Winter’s Wolves, Iron Swan
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Traced in Air :metal :metal :metal
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Nice update.
Devy, Cynic and the Sword! :metal
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I just can't get into Ghost. It's just not my thing, particularly right now. Easily my least favorite Devin album I own, and that includes Physicist and Punky Brewster - but not The Hummer.
Can't argue with Traced In Air though.
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Ghost is my absolute favorite Devin album so I'm going to shake my fist at your general direction in anger because it's too low on the list.
That Cynic album is pretty cool, and I haven't heard the last one.
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I just can't get into Ghost. It's just not my thing, particularly right now. Easily my least favorite Devin album I own, and that includes Physicist and Punky Brewster - but not The Hummer.
Can't argue with Traced In Air though.
Yeah, I can't get into Ghost either, never did anything for me except put me to sleep.
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Ghost is really beautiful and soothing. :heart
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Traced in air is pretty good. :tup
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Ghost is really beautiful and soothing. :heart
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That's three great albums you got there.
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44. Bjork - Homogenic (1997)
(https://www.waitmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Bjork-Homogenic.jpg)
This album is nothing less than an poignant, captivating journey into exotic lands. Bjork’s fiery vocals take you on a rollercoaster road through lanscapes of folk, trip-hop, alt rock and IDM. There’s just so much variety on this album that each song stands out like a rocky peak in the morning mist. The gamut runs from the mournful fragility of tracks such as “Unravel” to the epic, cinematic grandiosity of “Joga” and “Bachelorette.” This is one of those albums that immediately grabs you with its simplicity and beauty but keeps you coming back for more with its underlying complexity.
Indeed, as Bjork herself has noted, this is an album modeled on her native land of Iceland and is meant to reflect its complex, natural environment. In that sense, Homogenic is a very organic album and thus one that has immediate emotional resonance but also intellectual density at the same time. The amount of glitching in tracks such as “Alarm Call” gives the listener a sense that this is almost an improvisational work; something done right from the heart or rather out of some kind of connection between emotions and the natural world. Even Bjork’s vocal approach suggests a kind of anti-perfectionist, organic approach that connects nature and the soul as opposed to the staleness and stagnation of the American Idol, cookie-cutter pop model. In all, this is a fascinating and engaging album that is at once an intellectual mystery as it is an emotional catharsis. Fans of experimentation and innovative ideas should be quite pleased with it.
Recommended tracks: Joga, Bachelorette, Unravel, Hunter
43. Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984)
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_req0ee63DsY/TKFkcHGTDoI/AAAAAAAABIM/o3ao6qee-sA/s1600/Iron_Maiden_-_Powerslave.jpg)
All the 80’s era Maiden albums are such classics. It’s hard to choose my favorite but I had to choose Powerslave because Aces High and the title track are my two all-time favorite Maiden tracks. Plus it has one of the best metal album covers of all time. What impresses me the most about Iron Maiden besides their rock-solid songwriting abilities and the legendary vocals of Bruce Dickinson is their lyrical topics. They write songs about such a wide array of literary, historical, military, political and even philosophical subjects which adds an extra level of power to their music. Powerslave discusses such subjects as ancient Egyptian mythology, the Doomsday Clock and fencing. Oh and let’s not forget that they have one of the best drummers of all time as well as some of the best solos. As on all their albums, Nicko McBrain and the three guitarists shine brilliantly and make some incredibly ambitious music. All these elements coalesce into a perfect package on Powerslave. With Powerslave, as well as with Number of the Beast, Iron Maiden cemented themselves as the leading NWOBHM band and one of the best and most influential heavy metal bands of all time.
Recommended tracks: Powerslave, Flash of the Blade, Aces High, Rime of the Ancient Mariner
42. Kamelot - The Black Halo (2005)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44prwtu_f7w/Tazyoq6MMnI/AAAAAAAAB2E/-RS65pActyM/s1600/kamelot%2B-the%2Bblack%2Bhalo.jpg)
Kamelot may not be as popular as other symphonic bands such as Nightwish and Within Temptation, but this album proves they can not only hold their own against their rivals, but also deliver a staple of the power/symphonic genre. This is a concept album with an engaging, Faust-influenced story about metaphysics and love. While the story alone may be novel material, the real focus should of course be on the music. Roy Khan’s soaring, operatic vocals and Thomas Youngblood’s melodic wizardry form the core of the album’s musical prowess. And as if their combined talent wasn’t enough to satisfy your musical appetite, the band invited guest vocalists Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir (one of my all time favorite black metal vocalists) and Simone Simons of Epica (about as ideal a symphonic metal vocalist as you can get) to lend their unique capabilities to the album. The mood of the album varies from quiet and somber on the ballads to loud and epic on the rest of the songs. Unlike more intense and complicated works by bands such as Rhapsody of Fire, The Black Halo offers just the right amount of beautiful melodies and killer riffs to attract those who aren’t big fans of power/symphonic metal.
Recommended tracks: March of Mephisto, When the Lights are Down
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Powerslave :2metal:
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Powerslave :2metal:
this
Rime of the Ancient Mariner is so awesome
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Homogenic is a fantastic album. Good description, too.
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The Black Halo is one of my favorite albums of all time so thumbs up. :tup
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Homogenic and Powerslave! :tup
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Great update, three excellent albums! :tup
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Powerslave :2metal:
this
Rime of the Ancient Mariner is so awesome
:leaveseyes:
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Powerslave & Black Halo :hefdaddy
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41. Blackfield - Blackfield (2004)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tQfdCI6wFY/TwCu2z3bVsI/AAAAAAAAATM/B-yw-rDWO4o/s1600/Blackfield.jpg)
Imagine Anathema, Radiohead and the Cocteau Twins all thrown together and Blackfield is what you get. But of course one should not regard this album/group as derivative of those bands but rather as a unique and beautiful art rock project. Every song on this album is lush and textural from the spacey ballad “Glow” to the shimmering grandeur of “Summer.” Not only do Steven Wilson and Aviv Geffen shine here as top-notch vocalists, but Mr. Wilson’s legendary production methods give the album a sense of unity and crispness that few other producers are capable of rivalling (Devin Townsend being a noteworthy exception). The instrumentation is fairly simple but the ambience and richness of the album leave much to the listener’s imagination. In that respect, it is a very comforting album as the lyrics also attest to. Though this albums two successors may be quite strong in their own right, the Blackfield debut album stands as one of the most unique “pop” records I’ve heard to date and is one of the most enduring testaments to Mr. Wilson and Mr. Geffen’s creative genius.
Recommended tracks: Hello, Blackfield, Glow, Summer
40. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom (2009)
(https://jordanmunson.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/candlemass_deathmagicdoom.jpeg?w=500&h=500)
As far as doom metal goes, Candlemass are truly one of the greats and though they might not be nearly as popular or influential, I like them almost as much as the mighty Black Sabbath. Though many fans would choose “Nightfall” as their best album, I have to go with Death Magic Doom not only because it’s the first Candlemass album I heard/loved but because the riffs and vocals are just more appealing to me than those on “Nightfall” (as classic of an album as that is). Messiah Marcolin was a great fit for the band and I enjoy his voice very much but Robert Lowe adds so much power and aggressiveness to the band that he really puts the “epic” in epic doom metal. He sort of has a Dio meets Bruce Dickinson type of voice that gives the music an extra dimension of rawness whereas Marcolin’s higher pitched vocals somewhat hindered the band from being as heavy as it should have been.
As far as the album goes, the riffs are heavy as lead (especially on “Hammer of Doom”) and the solos are phenomenal. The lyrics, morosely dark per usual, only add to the sheer weight and magnitude of the songs’ heaviness. You can think of it as a super-heavy mix between Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath but in the end it’s just good, ol’ fashioned heavy metal and a truly worthy addition to the doom metal genre.
39. Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg (2009)
(https://zoinks.tv/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Wolfmother-Cosmic-Egg.jpg)
As far as stoner/retro rock goes, Wolfmother are at the pinnacle of the genre in my opinion. While they might not rival their predecessors/inspiration in Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, AC/DC etc., they have still deservedly earned the honor of being one of the modern era’s leading hard rock bands. Most fans would probably choose their self-titled debut as their best album so far but I think that they really progressed on Cosmic Egg and made their music even more powerful and energetic. Take the epic, Kashmir-esque grooving of “10,000 Feet” or the raw, punkish riffage of “White Feather” for example and it is clear that not only did Wolfmother not experience anything even approaching a ‘sophomore slump’, but they managed to improve on their already tried-and-true formula. If you are a fan of classic hard and metal, you will most likely be pleasantly surprised at the degree to which such a young band has breathed fresh life into that time-honored sound.
Recommended tracks: Far Away, 10,000 Feet, New Moon Rising
Recommended tracks: If I Ever Die, The Bleeding Baroness, Hammer of Doom, Demon of the Deep
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Blackfield! :heart
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Loving this list! Great albums so far.
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Thanks for all the support, guys! Glad you're liking my picks :tup
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Interesting pick with Cosmic Egg. I never really gave it much of a chance. The debut though is killer.
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I'm a bit late, but... POWERSLAVE! :metal
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38. Alcest - Souvenirs d’un Autre Monde (2007)
(https://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kzelkr9iLC1qa3x7v.jpg)
This album is the definitive proof that metal can be beautiful. Like Wolves in the Throne Room and another black metal band soon to be mentioned, Alcest transform the black metal idiom of darkness and evil into something positive and blissful. The lyrics are in French which lends itself quite well to the poetic aspirations of Neige while the music consists of shoegaze metal riffage and resplendent acoustic folk. The vocals themselves vary from traditional black metal shrieking to Sigur Ros-esque crooning. As Neige has mentioned, the concept of the band is to help him and his listeners to find their lost childhood. While such a goal might not be all that realistic, you certainly get the feeling that you are connecting with an inner self while listening to the album; especially if you listen while paying close attention to the translated lyrics (unless of course you already know a good deal of French). Out of the numerous shoegaze black metal bands including Amesoeurs and Lantlos, Alcest stands out as the leader in the genre and their debut album is, for me, their most polished and beautiful work. It is a transcendent work of art that shines forth from the underground world of metal and is one of the most unique albums ever within the black metal genre.
Recommended tracks: title track, Les Iris, Printemps Emeraude
37. Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003)
(https://covers1.img-themusic-world.info/000/23/23011.jpg)
Not only is this one of the best post-rock albums in existence from a compositional standpoint, but it’s also a breathtaking, emotional journey through the deepest chasms of the soul. Post-rock has a knack for emotional storytelling and it is this band and album that speak to us through their music. The band wisely chose to let their instruments be the narrator to the listener’s inner journey because they realized that vocals in this context would be entirely superfluous and potentially counterproductive. From serene, melodic passages to thundering, distorted crescendos, this is an emotional rollercoaster that, unlike the cinematic and relatively abstract qualities of Mono’s works, for examples, this is a deeply personal album. In this regard, it is human, warm and organic. Every song conveys a unique emotional message and the album as a whole is a ‘concept album’ about one of the most basic human emotions: love. Those who are put off by instrumental music should at least give this album a chance. They may end up unsure why vocals should even matter in the first place.
Recommended tracks: Your Hand In Mine, Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean, First Breath After Coma
36. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
(https://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/AgaetisByrjun.jpg)
Now to my all-time favorite post-rock album. Here, Sigur Ros channel the spirit of Iceland into musical brilliance. The beautiful landscape of their native country plays a key role in shaping the vast, haunting soundscape that is this album. One can easily imagine the silent flow of icebergs in the night as one is engulfed in the pure ecstasy that is “Svefn-g-englar” or strolling lazily through verdant pastures on a summer day when listening to the almost jazzy “Ny batteri.” Then one can imagine wandering through a sleep Icelandic hamlet on “Olsen Olsen” or lying down on top of a mountain at night to watch the aurora borealis on “Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa.” Whereas Explosions in the Sky follow traditional post-rock composition standards, Sigur Ros eschew those standards in favor of a more minimalistic and even more organic sound. It’s like their music encapsulates the story of every human life and every natural wonder into a harmonious, breathtakingly beautiful masterpiece of sound. Jonsi is like a creature from another world speaking to us in an incomprehensible language, but enlightening us at the same time. Perhaps that may sound a little over the top, but it is quite easy for the imagination to run wild when listening to this gorgeous music. Sigur Ros are truly a one of a kind band and this album is not only their crowning achievement, but arguably the best post-rock album ever made.
Recommended tracks: Svefn-g-englar, Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa, Staralfur
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Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Ros :tup
Those albums don't make my top 50 but I enjoy them a lot
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agaetis byrjun = one of the greatest albums ever recorded. seriously.
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The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place :heart :heart :heart
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I am liking that album from The Sword; nice recommendation!
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Nice update!
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Great update! love all three of those albums.
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35. Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain (2006)/The Mantle (2002)
(https://img.noiset.com/images/album/agalloch-ashes-against-the-grain-disc-15930.jpeg) (https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/1933/cover_429192082005.jpg)
Well, this marks the first time on the list where I couldn’t decide between a band’s albums so in Agalloch’s case, I listed both these masterpieces for this entry. Agalloch often gets compared to Opeth which makes a fair amount of sense, but I tend to see their sound as more akin to Ulver’s Bergtatt. Both bands feature black metal vocals and riffage as well as extensive folky passages. Yet, Agalloch is still unique in the sense that they have pushed Ulver’s sound in completely new directions. In fact, they have taken black metal so far away from its roots as to cause controversy over whether or not they belong in the black metal category in the first place. In fact, they straddle between many genres including black metal, neofolk, doom metal, post-rock, and a touch of dark ambient. But for our purposes, it isn’t the genres that are our main concern but the content of the music.
Agalloch are a highly visual band. They create cold, desolate landscapes all within the confines of the listener’s mind. In fact, there is an entire universe of imagery and themes within Agalloch’s music. Much of the thematics within this universe have to do with pantheism and Nietzschean themes of individualism and alienation from modern society. Though I would not classify myself as either a pantheist or a Nietzschean, I cannot help but marvel at the incredible philosophical poetry lead vocalist/songwriter/guitarist John Haughm has written and the sheer uniqueness of this band in terms of its ability to weld together particular imagery with particular themes.
From the delicate snowfall on a moonlit winter night found on the majestic “Odal” to the raw, blizzard-like terror of “Not Unlike the Waves,” these two albums represent epic, genre-defying explorations of humanity’s relationship to nature and its place in the cosmos. These two albums are blisteringly cold at times, yet one can always find on them a dimly lit cabin with a glowing hearth that promises redemption and offers a sense of identity amongst the chaos and ruin.
Recommended tracks: Not Unlike the Waves, The Hawthorne Passage, Odal, Falling Snow, You Were But a Ghost In My Arms
34. Within Temptation - The Unforgiving (2011)
(https://images.wikia.com/lyricwiki/images/8/81/Within_Temptation_-_The_Unforgiving.jpg)
Despite the rather cheesy cover, this album is a piece of pop-metal mastery. Moving away from the purely symphonic side of metal, Within Temptation channel the 80’s pop style to great effect. Every song is catchy and Sharon den Adel’s vocals sound as clear and beautiful as ever. Tracks such as lead single “Faster” and the enchanting ballad “Fire and Ice” are just a few examples of the band’s ability to put together a cohesive, yet varied album. Those who want a more accessible form of symphonic metal will have found their match and older fans of Within Temptation will be amazed at the band’s ability to experiment with new sounds and make such a compelling album out of them. The Unforgiving is a whole lot of fun to listen to and is one of my all time symphonic/gothic records.
Recommended tracks: Faster, Sinead, Fire and Ice, Where is the Edge
33. Deftones - Diamond Eyes (2010)
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z-UITRMJUzY/TVgKuzeS1WI/AAAAAAAAARc/BkXFBXSmwGY/s1600/deftones-diamond-eyes.jpg)
After the tragic accident involving bassist Chi Cheng, it seemed as if the other members of the Deftones would either go on hiatus or if they did make an album, it would not be as good its predecessors. As it turns out, neither was the case. While White Pony may be many fans’ favorite Deftones release, I think that Diamond Eyes is not only their most concise and focused work, but it is also their best. Indeed, the band surprised many people in being able to produce such a critically acclaimed album given the circumstances.
The album is very heavy due to guitarist Abe Cunningham's use of an 8-string guitar. Chino Moreno delivers his signature whispered vocals beautifully and the fill-in bassist, Sergio Vega, performs flawlessly. The mood of the album ranges from heavy and aggressive on tracks such as “Rocket Skates” to subdued and reflective on “Sextape.” For a band that comes out of the much derided nu-metal/alt-metal scene, the Deftones have earned respect from critics and fans alike for their forays into the more experimental side of music. On this album, the experimentation is less pronounced than on Saturday Night Wrist or their self-titled opus, but this is only a healthy thing for the band as those two albums seemed to meander at times and lose their focus. In short, Diamond Eyes still fits within the ‘Deftones sound’, yet it has been tweaked to trim the fat and pack a real punch.
Recommended tracks: Sextape, Prince, title track, You’ve Seen the Butcher
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Those Agalloch albums are fantastic.
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As always, The Mantle > Ashes Against the Grain
But Ashes is still awesome.
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Those Agalloch albums are fantastic.
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:heart Deftones - Diamond Eyes :heart is soooooooo amazingly gooooood!
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32. Opeth - Damnation (2003)
(https://www.hitosoft.com/editor/uploads/Opeth-Damnation.jpg)
As we saw on last year’s Heritage and on this album, Opeth aren’t afraid to cross boundaries into the ‘dangerous’ territory of non-metal. After spending five albums fine-tuning their progressive death metal sound, Mikael Akerfeldt and the rest of the band decided to take a foray into the world of progressive rock and reconnect with the band’s roots. I do not see Damnation, or Heritage for that matter, as representing the band’s sound or attitude towards music any less than Blackwater Park or Still Life. Damnation is not only an expression of Mikael’s deep love for legendary prog-rock bands such as Pink Floyd and King Crimson (as well as more underground prog bands of the 1970’s), but it is also a brilliant piece of art that I believe is on par with at least some, if not all, of the great albums made by those bands and their contemporaries.
I have to admit I am also quite enamored by the unique sounds those bands brought to the musical scene so I readily identify with many elements on Damnation such as the prominent use of the mellotron, the jazzy drumming, and beautiful vocal harmonies. All those things plus Mikael’s natural talent as a singer/lyricist and master producer/musician Steven Wilson’s creative input make for an unforgettable classic. From the haunting mournfulness of “Weakness” to the anthemic “To Rid the Disease,” Damnation is a showcase of Opeth’s unique and innovative style, their creative boldness, and their ability to harness the sounds of the past without being derivative in the slightest. Fans of classic rock, especially prog rock, will most likely be pleasantly surprised that a modern band can pull off such an amazing feat of musicianship.
Recommended tracks: Hope Leaves, Windowpane, To Rid the Disease
31. Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile (1999)
(https://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/17/21/11/49/thefra10.jpg)
Edging away ever so slightly from the raw aggression and anger of The Downward Spiral and Broken, The Fragile represents Trent Reznor’s shift into new musical territory. Dark ambient and classical elements feature prominently in many tracks and the mood overall is softer, yet simultaneously darker than on previous releases. The orchestration of the album is intricate and, as the title suggests, Reznor is at his most emotionally vulnerable state of mind. This is the story of a desperate, broken individual searching for a glimmer of light in an ocean of darkness. On the haunting, dark epic “The Great Below,” for example, one can almost imagine this person floating lazily and aimlessly through a hell of their own creation while on “We’re In This Together Now,” he/she has found the resolve to persevere and fight the demons of their past. It is a deeply personal album and thus it is very intense, yet liberating at the same time. If there is one mood that ties together all of Reznor’s music in NIN, it is catharsis. On The Fragile, this catharsis doesn’t happen in the form of a volcanic eruption, but rather as an oozing of dark emotions into a netherworld of existence. Beauty and ugliness are forced to cohabit the same space on The Fragile and work out some sort of way to coexist harmoniously. Reznor's music is a mirror reflection of his persona and is written/recorded as a kind of psychological self-help guide. He explores the space between light and dark and ties the two worlds together. In short: It is a concept album in all but name and features a great deal of experimentation.Ffor these reasons, I would call it a perfect blend of industrial music and art rock as well as an excellent addition to any DTFer’s musical library.
Recommended tracks: The Great Below, The Day the World Went Away, We're In This Together, The Mark Has Been Made
30. Portishead - Dummy (1994)
(https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/covers/dummy.jpg)
One of trip-hop’s iconic albums, Portishead’s Dummy features sultry acid jazz beats and the soulful, pained vocals of frontwoman Beth Gibbons. This is the kind of album to listen to on a rainy day or on a long drive. It is melancholic and introspective, but extremely beautiful at the same time. Musically speaking, it is not quite as dark as Massive Attack’s Mezzanine but the lyrics are filled with an incredible amount of loss and betrayal which Gibbons’ haunting singing helps vivify. The album is simply enchanting and it is amazing how the band can harness the best elements of jazz, soul and electronica into a coherent and satisfying piece of art. If there is one word I can use to describe this masterpiece, it is “sexy.” Yet this isn’t the kind of gaudy sexuality one would find on a Madonna or Lady Gaga album. Rather, it is a reserved eroticism that comforts you in a very sensual way. Hope that wasn’t too graphic or anything but hopefully you’ll see what I mean once you give this baby a spin ;)
Recommended tracks: Wandering Star, Roads, Sour Times, Glory Box
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The Fragile. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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damnation is great :D
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Glory Box may in fact be the sexiest song I've ever heard.
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Great picks although I haven't heard the last one.
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Agalloch and Opeth! And as always, Ashes > Mantle.
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The Fragile is a really killer album.
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29. System of a Down - Toxicity (2001)
(https://www.metalsucks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/toxicity.jpg)
It’s chaotic, it’s quirky, it’s comedic, it’s serious, and it’s heavy. Like their (probable) influences in Frank Zappa and Primus, System of a Down infuse a lot of melodrama and tongue-in-cheek humor into their music. Yet, what sets them apart and establishes their uniqueness in the musical universe is the method in their madness; namely, to write heavy riffs and political lyrics. This album is a thrill ride from start to finish and it is one of the finest nu-metal/alt-metal releases in history. Serj Tankian’s over-the-top vocals combined with Daron Malakian’s chunky riffage make it irresistible to headbang with a bit of a smile on your face. While the subject matter of the songs is quite serious, Toxicity is nevertheless a very fun album to listen to and it has quite deservedly become a staple of modern metal.
Recommended songs: Aerials, ATWA, Psycho, Toxicity
28. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)
(https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/covers/de-loused-in-the-comatorium.jpg)
A unique blend of Latin jazz-fusion, progressive rock, and hard rock, The Mars Volta’s debut album proved to be one of the most unique and well-respected releases in the modern prog-rock world. The singing is bombastic, the music volatile and the lyrics almost incomprehensible (one would have to read the liner notes or Wikipedia just to know that this is a concept album with a coherent story). Yet, that is what me and other TMV fans enjoy so much about the band. The intensity and energy of the album instantly sucks you into a strange world that sounds like a cross between Al di Meola/Santana and Led Zeppelin. The album’s epic piece, “Cicatriz ESP” is a perfect example of the combining of these two disparate styles. Hard rock intensity is pierced by extended psychedelic, jazzy sections that set up a great atmosphere. But really, all of the songs on the album more or less follow this formula and each one is a joy to listen to. More so than on any of their later albums, De-Loused finds the band putting accessibility and experimentation in a perfect balance as well as making some of the most memorable songs of their career. Though most of you guys have probably already heard this album and are familiar with this band, I highly suggest you check it out if you haven’t or listen to it again if you have.
Recommended tracks: Televators, Cicatriz ESP, Inertiatic ESP
27. Gojira - The Way of All Flesh (2008)
(https://images.cryhavok.org/d/7593-1/Gojira+-+The+Way+of+All+Flesh.jpg)
Like their American counterparts Lamb of God, Gojira play a sort of heavy, groovy metal but unlike LoG, Gojira also add a progressive twist with odd-time signatures and the like. That said, the progressive elements do not at all interfere with the sheer headbangability of the album and the absolutely legendary riffs such as in “Vacuity” and “Art of Dying.” In fact the ending on the latter track is so good as to be comparable to some of Opeth’s epic outros. This is hands-down one of the best death metal albums of all time. Not to mention that Mario Duplantier is one of the most talented metal drummers as is his brother Joe in the vocal and riffage departments. Add in the beautiful lyrics which deal with metaphysical and environmental themes and what you have is a piece of death metal art. In all, The Way of All Flesh might not be what most people consider a staple of death metal, but after repeated listens, I have come to the conclusion that it is indeed one of the best albums in the genre.
Recommended songs: Vacuity, Art of Dying, Toxic Garbage Island
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The story so far:
50. Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe
49. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
48. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
47. Devin Townsend - Ghost
46. Cynic - Traced in Air
45. The Sword - Age of Winters
44. Bjork - Homogenic
43. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
42. Kamelot - The Black Halo
41. Blackfield - Blackfield
40. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
39. Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg
38. Alcest - Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde
37. Explosions in the Sky - The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place
36. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
35. Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain/The Mantle
34. Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
33. Deftones - Diamond Eyes
32. Opeth - Damnation
31. Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
30. Portishead - Dummy
29. System of a Down - Toxicity
28. The Mars Volta - Deloused in the Comatorium
27. Gojira - The Way of All Flesh
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Lots of goodness here.. love The Fragile and Deloused!
Been wanting to check out Wolfmother a little more and I keep hearing great things about Gojira. While I'm not huge into death metal I listened to Vacuity and really enjoyed the music and riffs a lot.
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Props for De-Loused. TMV are just something else.
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Damnation, Deloused and The Wall of all Flesh. I like!
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I gotta get into Gojira as soon as possible...
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I'm getting a little behind with my write-ups so I'm just gonna go one at a time from now on. Sorry, guys!
26. Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)
(https://images.cryhavok.org/d/8697-1/Metallica+-+Ride+the+Lightning.jpg)
While it may seem rather pointless to review such an iconic and well-known album, I would like to anyways do it anyways just because it's on my list. This album was a landmark for the band who on their debut album sounded like little more than a heavier version of Motorhead. Ride the Lightning marked the introduction of intricate compositions, more sophisticated lyrical content and firmly established the band’s identity. The fact that the band refined their sound even further on their next album does not detract from Ride the Lightning’s greatness. The songs range from the blistering thrashiness of “Fight Fire With Fire” to the melancholic and anthemic ballad “Fade to Black.” In some respects, it is hard to believe that such a young band which was relatively inexperienced as far as making and recording songs/albums went could produce one of metal’s greatest masterpieces. But then again, it is often the case that a band’s best material is made during its formative years and/or when the members are relatively young. But aside from that matter, the songs on this album are all unforgettable and it stands as one of the most influential metal albums of all time even after 28 years. It is a supremely worthy addition to any metalhead’s collection.
Recommended songs: title track, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fade to Black, Creeping Death
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Great pick!
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Good list so far :tup
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Great pick!
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Great pick!
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Good list so far :tup
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25. Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God (2008)
(https://jordanmunson.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/amon_amarth_twilight_of_the_thunder_god_cover.jpeg?w=500&h=500)
If I had to define death metal to someone, I wouldn’t need to use any words. I would just hand them a copy of this album and walk away. To me, this is what death metal is all about. Much more so than Cannibal Corpse’s use of guts and gore, Amon Amarth’s focus on vikings and Norse legends seems to capture the primal, otherwordly essence of death metal. The image of the mighty warrior standing proudly on the battlefield, fighting amongst his comrades symbolizes the band’s sense of brotherhood they feel with the metal community as well as their fierce individualism (as contradictory as that might seem). But enough about the ideology. The music itself is simply breathtaking. The melodies and riffs are some of the best I’ve heard in metal. Johan Hegg’s vocals are absolutely perfect and fit swimmingly with the music. The drumming is great and the solos are beautiful. And though this might not pertain to the album per se, the video for the title track is the definition of epic. I am so enthusiastic about this album because not only is the music amazing, but it also helped me get into death metal (along with Opeth’s Blackwater Park). Therefore, I admit I am a bit biased in regards to my sentimental attachment to this album, but I can wholeheartedly assure you that this is a killer, classic album. If mainstream metal has its Master of Puppets, Number of the Beast, Paranoid etc. then this is the equivalent of those albums for death metal. If you have not heard this album/band, please do so. You will NOT be disappointed.
Recommended tracks: title track, Guardians of Asgaard, Free Will Sacrifice, Embrace the Endless Ocean
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Good list so far :tup
Rescinded. :)
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Another good pick! :)
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I like that Amon Amarth record.
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OMG HE'S FIGHTING A HYDRA DATS SO CHEEZY!!!!!11
RIDE THE LIGHTNING :2metal:
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24. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play (2007)
(https://www.mediaboom.org/uploads/posts/2010-05/1273949732_1262438851_1248893898_nightwish-dark-passion-play-408246.jpg)
I’m a huge fan of this band so choosing my favorite album from them was pretty hard, but I eventually had to go with the one that got me started on them in the first place. This is just an immense piece of work that reads like a concept album, yet it isn’t. Per usual, the songs feature Tuomas Holopainen’s beautiful fantasy/literature-inspired lyrics as well rock-solid compositions/orchestrations. This time, they have Anette Olzon on vocals and not only does she do an amazing job singing, but she is a very nice person as well (having met her and the band at a signing event). The songs are incredibly strong and each one is quite unique even if most of them are stylistically similar. For example, the track “Sahara” features Middle Eastern melodies which is something the band had never done before, yet it is distinctively Nightwish because of the amazing riffs, singing etc. Other new twists include the spellbinding folk ballad “The Islander,” and the gorgeous “Eva.” This is the story of the band not only resolving the very difficult problem of replacing the phenomenal talent and persona of Tarja, but also of them maturing and finding new sources of inspiration. While Once, Century Child, Wishmaster and Oceanborn may all be amazing records in their own right, Dark Passion Play will always have special significance to me. I hope it does to you too.
Recommended songs: Amaranth, Eva, Sahara, The Islander, 7 Days to the Wolves
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Does this mean there are a lot of Nightwish albums coming up? B/c DPP isn't one of the better ones.
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He said he's only picking one album per artist.
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Also DPP is one of their best (although I think I still slightly prefer Once).
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That is a very... interesting pick.
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23. Orphaned Land - The Never Ending Way of Orwarrior
(https://images.cryhavok.org/d/13745-1/Orphaned+Land+-+The+Never+Ending+Way+of+OrwarriOr.jpg)
As the main representative for the growing “Oriental metal” movement, Orphaned Land have found worldwide appeal not only for their unique blend of death metal, prog-metal and Middle Eastern folk, but also for their appeal to common humanity and lyrics promoting religious understanding and tolerance. That said, while their previous effort Mabool follows this formula to a T, this album refines that formula into something even better. The band have truly outdone themselves in terms of creating an grandiose, beautiful political and religious statement that is at once intricate and catchy. The melodies, riffs and drumming are all fantastic but the best aspect of the album is the vocals which are simply perfect. Kobi Farhi is an a pro at both clean vocals and death growls, while Shlomit Levi is simply sublime in her Yemenite style of singing. From the instantly catchy “Sapari” (a reworked Yemenite folk song) to the highly technical “The Path Part 2,” this is a very well-rounded album that offers a good deal of diversity while staying within a very specific style. Steven Wilson handles production duties for the album and one can see resemblances to Porcupine Tree and Opeth in songs such as “Bereft in the Abyss” with its delicious mellotron and the vintage-sounding “M i?” which sounds like it could have been ripped straight from Damnation. Overall, this is a fantastic album and it is certainly one of the most unique ones in the progressive genre. Also check out Myrath if you enjoy Orphaned Land.
Recommended tracks: Sapari, M i?, Bereft in the Abyss, In Thy Never Ending Way
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I like DPP, but CC is the best them. I can totally understand the love for the first album that got you into a band. Some of my favorite bands are that way too - even when it's generally accepted it's not their best.
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Orphand Land are a huge band here in Israel.
I never loved them though
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Awesome album art. They look cool. Will have to check out.
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22. Trivium - Shogun (2008)
(https://www.mindovermetal.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/trivium_shogun.jpg)
Many metalheads may consider metalcore to be “not metal” or “emo” but they are the ones who likely haven’t listened to Trivium’s Shogun. This album is truly the one that sets the band apart from their peers in Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine etc. All the lyrics are about Japanese and Greek mythology which, in my opinion, is very metal and not at all emo. From a technical standpoint, the band are firing on all cylinders. The music takes a lot of influence from Metallica and Iron Maiden with complex arrangements, fantastic melodies and riffs and blistering solos. Oh and Travis Smith is a very underrated drummer. He really shines on this album. Yet insofar as there are screamed vocals, this is still a metalcore album and band. The most jarring facets of the album are the sheer amount of technical skill the band possesses and the degree to which they progressed their sound compared to The Crusade. Like many other band and albums on this list, Trivium have concocted a perfect marriage of technicality and catchiness. In fact, every song on Shogun is very catchy and memorable. Unlike their other efforts, there is not a single weak song on the album. I recommend this album to all metalheads, but especially to those who are adverse to metalcore as I once was. Perhaps you will not like every band in the genre or even most of them because of this album, but you will most likely gain a new appreciation for it and recognize its legitimacy within metal.
Recommended tracks: Down From the Sky, Throes of Perdition, Shogun, Like Callisto to a Star in Heaven
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What is emo about Trivium?
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What is emo about Trivium?
Nothing. It's just a silly label some people like to pin on them.
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21. Isis - Wavering Radiant (2009)
(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61tUDqJC1yL._SS500_.jpg)
Wavering Radiant is the culmination of Isis’ career and stands as a richly imaginative piece of art-metal. It features dense, Pink Floyd-esque atmospherics, Tool-like riffs and harsh vocals somewhat reminiscent of hardcore punk. The music and poetic lyrics form a loose concept about life, death and rebirth. It is an album that explores the deepest recesses of the mind and the imaginative landscapes of our dreams. Vocalist Aaron Turner once referred to the post-metal genre and his own band as “thinking man’s metal.” As pretentious as such a statement may sound and despite the fact that there are many non-post metal bands with thought-provoking lyrics, there is nonetheless a big grain of truth in what he said. Certainly on this album, the music is reflective and introspective rather than aggressive and extroverted like the Slayers and Panteras of the world (not that those are bad bands). In fact, this album is downright beautiful. Some may be turned off by the seemingly arbitrary and unsettling admixture of winding melodies with abrasive sludge. However, there is a method in this madness. The goal is to portray the world as it is with both dark and light, life and death co-existing. To quote from “Hall of the Dead”: “Here we stand among the others, the living among the dead.” (Unfortunately, many metalheads don’t bother to read the lyrics of the bands they listen to, but those who are fans of Isis, Tool and Meshuggah certainly should. Those bands write some of the most poetic and interesting lyrics I’ve seen.) Where other post-metal bands such as Cult of Luna and The Ocean have made also made significant contributions to the genre, they have not rivalled the sheer beauty of Isis, especially on Wavering Radiant. This album is much more subdued than say, Celestial or Oceanic but it is also their most accomplished work and my favorite album in the entire genre. R.I.P. Isis.
Recommended tracks: 20 Minutes/40 Years, Ghost Key, Hall of the Dead
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Trivium deserve to be in any top 50.
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20. Animals as Leaders - Animals as Leaders (2009)
(https://cdn.head-fi.org/8/89/1000x500px-LL-89a09f68_animals-as-leaders.jpg)
Here we have some of the most complex and inspired instrumental metal around. It might not be as technical as say Blotted Science or Behold the Arctopus, but it is great music nonetheless. AAL’s guitarist and frontman Tosin Abasi experiments with jazz, djent metal and electronic to make for something truly unique in the metal world. The technical prowess displayed on this album is simply out of this world. There is a clear sense of musical development and one gets the sense the band is exploring entirely new musical frontiers. As much as I enjoy Scale the Summit’s and Canvas Solaris’ unique contributions to instrumental metal, Animals as Leaders’ music has such a fresh, futuristic sound that, for me, puts them ahead of their peers. There is no filler album, not even on the three shorter tracks. Everything is thoroughly enjoyable and quite beautiful too. This isn’t a band that is merely copying Dream Theater, Meshuggah or Mahavishnu Orchestra and the like. They are blending all these influences into something truly original and awe-inspiring. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and give a listen to one of the most unique and talented bands in the progressive world. The term ‘mind-blowing’ may be cliched, but it is not hard to see that it is quite appropriate in defining this music.
Recommended tracks: Tempting Time, CAFO, Soraya, On Impulse
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I gotta say, I'm really enjoying this list, and you are giving me a lot of stuff to check out. Per your choice for 20, I just recently saw AAL open for Thrice. They played 6 songs, and I was impressed, although also quite overwhelmed. Having never heard them before, I couldn't quite grasp the subtleties of the different tracks. CAFO was my favorite, and I am definitely going to delve a bit deeper into their work now.
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Yeah, I understand where you're coming from. Even after listening to them so many times, I still can't quite wrap my head around it. It's music for musicians, but it's still awesome. I also recommend their second album, Weightless. For me, that one comes pretty close to rivaling their self-titled.
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Somehow I missed Orphaned Land. Mabool > ORWarrior though.
Also Orphaned Land > Animals as Leaders and Trivium, even though both of those are solid bands. Don't know Isis, so I can't speak for that one.
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Some nice albums here. Shogun and Wavering Radiant are great picks!
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Interesting choice... AAL is a cool album but the production is pretty meh, so I find it hard to enjoy it much. They were incredible live though!
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19. Katatonia - Night is the New Day (2009)
(https://images1.buymusichere.net/images/s/712/80105682712.jpg)
This album is the perfect illustration of music that is both dark and beautiful. It’s heavy, melodic, doomy, and very melancholic with a bit of a progressive flair. Jonas Renske’s voice is intoxicating as always and the riffs and melodies are all top-notch. One of my favorite tracks on the album, “Forsaker,” features a brutal, Meshuggah-esque intro and then shifts into an Opethian interlude before bringing back the heaviness in the chorus. Another one of my favorites, “Idle Blood,” rivals anything on Opeth’s Damnation. No matter which song on the album you listen to, it is going to be dark and moody. At the same time, it will often be headbangable and enjoyable. That is the allure of Katatonia. They manage to encapsulate the dark emotions they have into 4 or 5 minute songs that are very catchy and all fit within a very specific genre despite each song’s uniqueness. This is a very subtle album that requires many listens to fully appreciate. Those who are new to the band should start with this album or their previous one A Great Cold Distance as they are probably the most accessible ones in the band’s catalog.
Recommended songs: Idle Blood, Forsaker, Day and Then the Shade, The Longest Year
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I've had that on my to-listen list for ages. Time to have it removed by listening to it.
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Best Katatonia album IMO. Absolutely amazing, and an intense atmosphere throughout.
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18. Rush - Moving Pictures (1981)
(https://zombi.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/rush.jpg)
Another album that needs no introduction, Rush’s Moving Pictures cemented their status as prog-rock icons and produced some of their biggest hits including “Tom Sawyer” and “Limelight.” What I like most about the album is the technicality and freshness of it. It’s a very modern sounding record as opposed to their earlier works which had a distinctly 70’s production style on them. I love all those albums but Moving Pictures is what first turned me on to Rush and it is the album that speaks to me the most. Perhaps it is the intelligent and fitting use of synths or Neil Peart’s vivid lyrical imagery or simply the incredibly tight playing and songwriting on Moving Pictures that attracted me to it in the first place. I’d like to think it is a combination of those factors plus the overall excellent quality of the songs. As a prog-rock record, it is relatively short but it packs an incredible punch that launches Rush into legendary status along with their British peers Pink Floyd, Yes, King Crimson and Genesis. Additionally, as you all know, Rush directly inspired Dream Theater in countless ways and were largely responsible for prog-metal. Moving Pictures is a seminal prog record and a classic in every sense of the word. Those looking to enjoy progressive music while still rocking out need search no further than this album. If you are new to Rush (which I highly doubt), start with this album and then work backwards through the fantastic catalog of one of the world’s greatest rock bands.
Recommended tracks: YYZ, The Camera Eye, Limelight, Red Barchetta
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This album is a couple spots up in my top 50. So good
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Great album. Top 10 material for me. It has to be a staple for any prog-rock fan.
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Great album, just wish I had been alive at the time.
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17. Rammstein - Reise, Reise (2004)
(https://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/25373.gif)
When it comes to bombasticity, controversy and theatricality, not many bands rival the mighty Rammstein. I first heard about the band in a movie trailer for Hellboy but Reise, Reise is the album that properly introduced me to this industrial powerhouse of a band and is the one that continues to impress me the most out of their catalog. Though I was initially repelled by their Germanic gruffness and allegations of fascism (unwarranted as it turns out), Rammstein’s music proved to be far too compelling and headbangable to keep me from being a fan for very long. Of course, not every song on this album is a metal behemoth trampling everything in its path. For example, the acoustic stomper “Los” proves that it is possible to write a song without electric guitars yet still retain a metal attitude. Also, there are some soft parts in the lovely ballad “Ohne Dich” and in the haunting track “Amour.” Like any good industrial band, metal or not, Rammstein incorporates excellent synth work courtesy of Flake as found on the beautiful, yet crushingly heavy “Stein um Stein” and on the iconic title track. Also like many other industrial bands, the lyrical content is quite controversial ranging from the anti-globalization message of “Amerika” to “Mein Teil” which tells the story of a real life Hannibal Lecter. However, this band is still far less controversial than, say, Cannibal Corpse who go out of their way on every song to tell as gruesome a tale possible. That said, this is still a fun band to listen to and their penchant towards controversy and unfounded accusations of fascism should not deter you from at least exploring their music, if not become a fan. Overall, this is a highly memorable album with catchy, diverse songs and a high replayability value. It may well qualify as “shock rock” but at the same time it is a thoroughly enjoyable album with a surprising degree of subtlety and musical brilliance throughout.
Recommended tracks: Morgenstern, Reise Reise, Stein Um Stein, Amerika
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rammstein are great :metal
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Moving pictures and Reise reise are awesome. :metal
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I've never been able to get into Rammstein. It's a bit much for my taste...
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Rammstein! :metal
Great stuff.
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16. Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdOPjvwyHEU/T4F7pU9WUkI/AAAAAAAAA4A/Cs8EQ8zBWAA/s1600/black-sabbath-paranoid.jpg)
A perennial classic, Paranoid was one of metal’s defining moments and perhaps Black Sabbath’s greatest achievement. Tony Iommi is a veritable riffmaster on this album as proved by the iconic licks in songs such as “Iron Man” and “Electric Funeral.” Ozzy’s vocals are phenomenal and both Geezer and Bill add generous amounts of jazz-influenced subtlety to what is a well-crafted and well-rounded piece of musical art. Lyrically, this is a very dark album and an almost departure from the love-centric songs of Black Sabbath’s piers in bands such as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Death, insanity, depression, and war are all prominent themes but while the band is acknowledging these stark realities, it is also promoting its vision of a better future as in the transcendental song “Planet Caravan.” While some of the album’s references might a bit outdated (i.e. the Vietnam War), the themes are nonetheless quite relevant to our day and age. With their heavy, psychedelic sound, Black Sabbath established themselves as musical pioneers and have become influential to countless bands both within and outside of doom metal. In my view, Paranoid was the pinnacle of this innovation and stands as one of my all-time favorite metal albums.
Recommended tracks: all except Rat Salad
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MUSIC WIN!!! :metal
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paranoid is great, but i think Sabbath bloody Sabbath is better
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Really, you can't go wrong with any of the first 5 albums.
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MUSIC WIN!!! :metal
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That's one fine album. :tup
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That's one fine album. :tup
That's an understatement.
More than truly great album this is a pioneering album that set the template for an entire genre. The very noticeable blues influences on much of the debut are almost non-existant and what we have is everything that the title track (Black sabbath) of the debut hinted at and more.
A landmark of modern music as much as Sgt Peppers was.
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That's one fine album. :tup
That's an understatement.
More than truly great album this is a pioneering album that set the template for an entire genre. The very noticeable blues influences on much of the debut are almost non-existant and what we have is everything that the title track (Black sabbath) of the debut hinted at and more.
A landmark of modern music as much as Sgt Peppers was.
I agree 100% with all of that. You hit it right on the mark!
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MUSIC WIN!!! :metal
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Listening to it now. It's pretty good. Definitely has that classic feel.
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15. U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05QsHK5kdaQ/TyF0bfC2xEI/AAAAAAAABMs/BUvEeTVBCzE/s1600/the-joshua-tree-u2.jpg)
One of the most iconic albums of the 1980’s and U2’s magnum opus, The Joshua Tree is a breathtaking adventure into the wilderness of the American desert and the depths of the human soul. There is a sort of raw emotionality in U2’s sound and particularly on this album. However, the emotions are filtered, restrained and bubbling to the surface rather than exploding in white-hot fury. An example of this is on one of my all-time favorite U2 songs, “Bullet the Blue Sky” which features a certain seediness and dark undercurrent as it explores political hypocrisy, militarism, and the horrors of war all laced with biblical metaphors. Bono’s vocal delivery here is mesmerizing and his songwriting ability, generally a criminally underrated thing, shines brilliantly. From that song to “Running to Stand Still,” the perspective shifts from the political to the personal. This song, written with Dylan-esque simplicity and highly evocative visuals, talks about misery, loss but offers the possibility of redemption at the same time. If there is one thing I really admire about U2’s 1980’s period, it is Bono’s spiritual and comforting lyrics not to mention the the excellent quality of the songs themselves. As on every album, the Edge’s trademark delays are used to create a textural landscape that really tantalizes the imagination. This album also sees the band moving away somewhat from their post-punk roots and experimenting with other genres, particularly American and Irish folk. This gives the album a strong sense of well-roundedness and complements the folksy, visual lyrics to great effect. This is an album that has and will continue to stand the test of time both for me personally and for rock fans everywhere. It is a monolith in the rock genre and is U2’s finest moment.
Recommended tracks: Bullet the Blue Sky, Where the Street Have No Name, Running to Stand Still
Btw, sorry for the slow updating. Been busy lately. I'll try to pick up the pace :tup
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U2!
Great pick
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This is probably the only U2 album I can listen as a whole and enjoy it all the way. Great choice
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14. Dream Theater - Images and Words (1992)
(https://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww316/ataio0/Dream_Theater_-_Images_and_Words.jpg)
An extraordinary feat of musicianship, Images and Words set the standard for progressive metal and made Dream Theater into a household name. They proved here that they have an incredible knack for balancing technicality and emotionality in perfect proportions. The band are eager to display their technical prowess as on “Learning to Live” but they also know when to hold back as on “Another Day” and “Wait For Sleep.” As compared to their genre-mates in Opeth and Tool, the lyrics and mood of the album are not nearly as dark nor are the guitars as heavy, but it packs a huge punch nonetheless. Each song features innumerable catchy parts right down from the beautiful sax melodies on “Another Day” to the unforgettable intro to “Under a Glass Moon.” The mood ranges from fantastical and playful to reflective and sorrowful. In that regard, this is very much a theatrical album that some may call pretentious but that me and my fellow Dream Theater fans (you guys) would call ambitious, captivating and enjoyable. Dream Theater’s sound on this album (not so much on SDOIT and beyond) is a satisfying mixture of power metal (a la Helloween), Rush (a genre unto itself), and traditional heavy metal (a la Iron Maiden). No matter what the genre or combination of genres that influence the band’s sound, Dream Theater were able to influence the course of progressive metal single-handedly with this monumental album. If you want to immerse your friends and family in the wide world of progressive metal, then this album is a must-listen for them. Although Dream Theater were not the first progressive metal band I truly enjoyed, this album not only opened me up to them as a band but also opened me up to a unique sub-genre that includes other ‘traditional’ prog metal bands such as Symphony X and Haken. Images and Words was, is and will remain a metal classic.
Recommended tracks: Pull Me Under, Another Day, Take the Time, Under a Glass Moon
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Sorry, but recommended tracks doesn't include Metropolis and LtL?
You've chosen 4 of the weaker tracks as 'recommended', IMO. Of course, being I&W, every song should be recommended. Plus, this is one album that definitely doesn't need any additional recommendation here on DTF.
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Sorry, but recommended tracks doesn't include Metropolis and LtL?
Plus, this is one album that definitely doesn't need any additional recommendation here on DTF.
I know, but it's on my list so I figured what the hey.
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obviously, a great pick (thats making all the lists).
dont tell anyone, but your Images & Words was one of the better writeups. :)
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Thanks for the compliment. :smiley:
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I've never heard of this album. I think I need to check it out sometime.
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I've never heard of this album. I think I need to check it out sometime.
Yeah, I've found that most people on DTF haven't heard of it. It's really a shame. I think it's pretty good :tup
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you update your list reallly slow
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you update your list reallly slow
Yeah, sorry about that. I have a lot on my plate at the moment and haven't found time to complete my write-ups in a consistent fashion. I'll try to get some more done ASAP ;)
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Another great choice right there
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Another great choice right there
Yup.
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I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that's a great choice. :biggrin:
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Yeah, a Top 10 album of all time for me.
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Meh, Portnoy growls too much on it.
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13. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (2002)
(https://www.crazy-diamond.nl/tonefloat/images/cover102.jpg)
This is what I consider to be Porcupine Tree’s breakthrough album. After years spent as an underground prog/psychedelic rock group, Steven Wilson and co. decided it was time to branch out and explore the richness the metal world had to offer. What is unique about Porcupine Tree’s take on prog metal, on this album and others, is not only the crisp production SW brings to the table, but also the perfect blend of art rock and pop. The mood of the music is much more atmospheric and introspective than most Dream Theater songs, for example, which create an exuberant mood in their technicality. However, that is not to say that technicality is absent on In Absentia. Legendary drummer Gavin Harrison’s intricate playing creates a stark contrast with the relative simplicity of the guitars and keyboards. It is a more focused and more expressive kind of technicality. It is one that packs such an incredible punch that I have deemed this album one of all-time favorite prog metal albums (FoaBP is almost as good but didn’t quite make my cut). As for the songs, my favorites include “Blackest Eyes” which was the first song by the band that I heard/liked. Its song structure and riffage have a distinct Tool-like feel which is what really attracted me to it in the first place. Those same Tool-like dynamics can be found in “Strip the Soul” which features a mean riff and an almost gothic atmosphere. Of course, there is also a great degree of variety on this album. “Trains,” for example, sounds like an updated Pink Floyd and is one of my favorite acoustic songs ever. I probably needn’t go on describing and rating this album any further since I’m sure you guys are already plenty familiar with it. In closing, I think that if there are any post-70’s progressive bands/albums that have made a valuable contribution to progressive music, Porcupine Tree and In Absentia unquestionably fit the bill.
Recommended tracks: Blackest Eyes, Trains, The Sound of Muzak, Strip the Soul
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13. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (2002)
My favourite PT record. :tup
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12. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
(https://webpage.houlton.sad29.k12.me.us/images/DarkSideOfTheMoon.jpg)
What more can be said about this album? To say it’s a classic is an understatement. Dark Side of the Moon is one of the best-selling albums of all time and is the one that shot Pink Floyd into the stratosphere. To say it is influential is another understatement. It has influenced countless bands and without it, some of our most beloved bands such as Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Riverside etc. would probably not exist. When I first heard this album and band, I thought it was overhyped and not terribly impressive. At that time, I had already gotten into a few prog bands such as Tool and The Mars Volta so I didn’t understand why these bands, and pretty much every other in the genre, were influeced by Pink Floyd and this album. Slowly though, the pieces began to come together. I remember being particularly impressed by David Gilmour’s rapturous guitar solos on “Comfortably Numb” and “High Hopes.” I then came to love David’s vocals and, after a long time, came to like, if not love, Roger’s vocals. After that, I came back numerous times to the most critically acclaimed album of their career. What hooked me into it was the wonderful bluesiness and lyrical potency of “Money.” It a short while following that when I began to appreciate and even revere the album in its entirety. The mysterious and almost otherworldy quality of songs like “Us and Them” and “Great Gig in the Sky” soon had me convinced that I was listening to a timeless masterpiece. But when I think about the album as I’m writing about it, one of the most memorable and captivating parts that comes to mind is the very end of “Time” when David sings “Far away across the field, the tolling of the iron bell calls the faithful to their knees to hear the softly spoken magic spells.” Even though one can only speculate as to that stanza’s deeper meaning, on a literal level it’s such a beautiful and vivid piece of imagery that it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it (though plenty of other moments on the album do that as well). It’s a testament to Roger as a lyrical prodigy and the fact that the band as a whole could set those lines and others to such incredibly moving music is a testament to their overall greatness. I dissect every moment of the album in this way but I’ll just stop here and tell you to recommend this album to everyone you know who hasn’t heard it yet. You and I both know they will not be disappointed even if it takes a while to sink in as it did in my case.
Recommended tracks: Every song
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Aaaaaand.... another great pick. Great to see some love for High Hopes, it's probably my favourite PF song atm.
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Great picks!
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Two fantastic albums. :tup
Especially Dark side of the moon. :heart
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Well, yeah. That's 3 fantastic albums and all time favourites for me as well.
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I always did have troubles getting in to PT, but In Absentia keeps popping up. Maybe there's something to it???
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Both of those albums are amazing
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Gooood choices :tup
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you update your list reallly slow
He moves at the speed of light compared to other people who have done top 50s. :lol
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11. Opeth - Blackwater Park (2001)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdFtfCXsr_o/T1ZUw_v1F4I/AAAAAAAAAG0/VJ9qAqorMkQ/s1600/blackwater.jpg)
You’re probably thinking “Hmm, his avatar is the Opeth logo so he must be a huge Opeth fan. Why is Blackwater Park only at #11? Is he going to choose Ghost Reveries or Still Life or some other Opeth album as his #1?” Well, if you’re thinking along those lines, I’ll just come and say right now that you’re in for a surprise. But as the old saying goes, we’ll get to that bridge when we cross it. On to the matter at hand.
Whereas Opeth had already developed a cult following with their four previous albums, it was Blackwater Park that marked their ascension into metal stardom. The band brought in Steven Wilson to add his signature production style to the mix and as a result, the music gained additional layers of depth. It is not very easy to describe how the band progressed its music from Still Life, but it seems that they fine-tuned their songwriting skills to an even sharper degree. As on their other albums, the whole shines brilliantly. Mikael’s dark, romantic lyrics contribute greatly to the moody atmosphere of the music while his guitar riffs and growls add the punch that is characteristic of Opeth’s metal identity. The keyboards are haunting, the drums are phenomenal, and the bass is delicious. Blackwater Park has become a hallmark of progressive metal and has generated some of Opeth’s most popular songs such as “The Drapery Falls” and the title track. Of course, for those who are not accustomed to either progressive metal or death metal or both, becoming a casual Opeth fan can be a daunting challenge as it was for me when I first heard the album. However, it was my curiosity that had me listening time and again to the album as I could not understand why this album was so highly praised. After a while, it sunk in and I became the Opeth fan that I am today. That is the power of albums like this. They present themselves to you as a brick wall when you first come across them. After time though, they become soft as butter and you can really begin to understand and appreciate what’s going on in them. For the band to have made such a classic album is an extraordinary feat. But to have made a classic that spans two genres at once leaves them in a class on their own.To those of you who still can’t get into Opeth or this album, the only advice I have for you is to persist and keep listening. Being an Opeth fan is an amazing feeling and a reward unto itself.
Recommended tracks: The Drapery Falls, Harvest, title track, Bleak
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If you followed my list, your last 4 albums where all in my
top 10 top 5, apart from Dark Side of the Moon, which was at 11. Needless to say; good work :tup
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Awesome album. Still Life and Ghost Reveries are better, but still an amazing milestone in the world of prog metal.
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Im such a fucked up person.
I couldnt really get into any opeth album fully except Damnation.
The only songs in Blackwater Park that i managed to get into are Harvest and The Drapery Falls
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Needs to be higher up IMO. ;)
:heart Blackwater Park, and I've been on an Opeth binge for about 2 months now (I'm a new fan this year too). :metal
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10. Opeth - Ghost Reveries (2005)
(https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/covers/ghost-reveries.jpg)
Honestly, I find it quite difficult to explain why I rank this album slightly higher than Blackwater Park. Both albums are stylistically quite similar and both contain some of Opeth’s strongest material. I suppose it just has to do with the fact that I found it easier to connect with this album and appreciate it in its entirety than I did with Blackwater Park. Songs like “The Leper Affinity” and “Dirge for November” didn’t really click with me for a long time whereas every song on Ghost Reveries clicked relatively quickly and more fully than the songs on Blackwater Park. That said, this is a spectacular album from start to finish. From the menacing undertones of “The Grand Conjuration” to the haunting beauty of “Isolation Years” and “Hours of Wealth,” this album is an emotional journey from the deepest depths of hell to the most serene height of Paradise. Additionally, the album contains one of my top five Opeth songs: the monster track “Reverie/Harlequin Forest” which grips you from the second it starts and refuses to let go. I see this album along with Blackwater Park and Deliverance as the pinnacle of Opeth’s career and some of the best modern metal in existence. Like those albums, Ghost Reveries strikes a fine balance between appealing to the death metal base and appealing to potential newcomers to the band/genre. Opeth is truly a gateway band as countless other prog fans can attest to. As I said in my last writeup, if you or people you know have trouble getting into death metal then this is the band to listen to. If you or they still have trouble appreciating death metal after hearing the majestic music of Opeth, then you should at least respect the band for that seemingly unlimited ambition and mastery of the musical craft.
Recommended tracks: every song
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:tup
But it's not better than Blackwater Park.
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Forgot to mention in my review that Ghost Reveries has one of my all-time favorite album covers. It's just gorgeous.
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That is does. :tup
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Well, I was about to do my writeups for #s 8 and 9 when I realized that I had already done them on Helium a long time ago. So here you go, copy and pasted from Helium:
9. Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
(https://music.is-amazing.com/sites/music.is-amazing.com/files/imagecache/Covers/covers/aliceinchains.jpg)
With the death of the former vocalist for Alice In Chains, Layne Staley, the future of grunge rock seemed to be in a sort of permanent limbo. Nirvana, founding fathers of grunge and patriarchs to the Generation X social movement had evaporated from the scene with one fatal pull of the trigger. Soundgarden met its untimely demise at the peak of its career with few bands left to carry the torch of grunge into the next millenium.
The phoenix arose from the ashes in September of 2009. "Black Gives Way To Blue" gives so much while asking so little. Recently hired vocalist William DuVall makes a conscious attempt to tread lightly in the shadows of his predecessor with a soaring, yet melancholy texture that permeates the album and fills one with both longing nostalgia and an air of vindication. Another one of the great gambles in music history has paid off and I, for one, am bewildered by the sheer professionalism as well as stunning audacity contained all at once in this once-in-a generation magnum opus.
With pummeling riffs and almost highly personalized lyrics, the first single "A Looking in View" provides a choice example of the carefully crafted balance Alice in Chains has struck through the entirety of their latest offering. Dark beauty and headbang-worthy melodies; Climax and nadir, this first glimpse of the new record, in much the same way as the first official single, "Check My Brain" sends the listener on a sonic roller-coaster through unexplored extremes.
Beautiful gems like "Your Decision" or the title track immediately sends our thoughts racing back to the old heyday of the band in which they produced such acoustic flavored pleasantries as "No Excuses" or "I Stay Away". In their new heyday, Alice in Chains have reclaimed their title to the throne of musical deal-making. While verging into radio-friendly territory, DuVall and co. keep a soft spot for their old fanbase with alienation being an almost impossibility.
Each member of the band delivers the goods and then some. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell, per custom, delivers instantly memorable riffs along with solos that time and again seem to stand miles above the competitors. Sean Kinney on drums does nothing to muddy the textures of the latter figure and delivers an efficient and professional rendition. Mike Inez, though not offering anything that could rival the mesmerizing bass overture to "Would?" still supplies the average headphone-user with a hardy assortment of ear candy and gratifying textural layering. DuVall, of course, though unable to actually replace Mr.Staley in any fashion, proves his meddle with passionate vocals that synchronize like wood and glue with those of Mr. Cantrell and ultimately provides the best incentive for taking any interest in the first place with the new offering.
Would this record actually win "Album of the Year" from the Hollywood record execs? Probably not. But, as fans, we (myself included) can bank on the potential of this band to re-cement their place in the great annals of music fame whether the MTV crowd chooses to wake up and smell the coffee or not. Without delving too far into a tangent, "Black Gives Way To Blue" is worth every penny and represents perhaps one of the finest examples of "art for art's sake" with a thoroughly organic yet polished sound. The themes of spiritual growth and loss/redemption running throughout the album speak not only to humanity's existential struggles but also the state of the band itself.The legend may have passed on but the legacy continues.
Recommended tracks: A Looking in View, Acid Bubble, Private Hell, Last of My Kind
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I don't really agree that it's that good, but it was an awesome comeback album and one of my own favourites for 2009. Nice.
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8. Tool - Lateralus (2001)
(https://www.lookandlisten.co.za/products/33044.20111108105406.orig.jpg)
This write up is way too long to post here, so I'm gonna link you to my review on Helium. Hope you don't mind.
https://www.helium.com/items/1720943-toollateralusprogressivemetal2001maynarddanny-careyschismparabolaexperimental (https://www.helium.com/items/1720943-toollateralusprogressivemetal2001maynarddanny-careyschismparabolaexperimental)
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Lateralus :tup
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Meh. I don't like it that much.
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I haven't listened to a lot of Tool but I'll work on it. Same for that Alice in chains album, although I've heard Lesson learned and Check my brain and I loved them. :metal
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Just one amazing album after another.
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So, any updates coming?
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So, any updates coming?
Yeah, there's one (possibly two) coming today. Sorry for the delay.
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Adace, nice list, though I don't know half of it! :lol
Took a quick look through it today. I liked your I&W writeup and the fact that you picked up on the Helloween vibe. I heard it immedeately as well.
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7. Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)
(https://im.glogster.com/media/5/16/11/80/16118091.jpg)
Not to complain, but reviewing these classic albums is becoming a rather tedious task. I tend to see this album as rather straightforward and therefore not privy to the same kind of multifaceted analysis that, say, prog rock albums are. Nonetheless, as Metallica’s legendary thrashterpiece “Master of Puppets” is indeed on my top 50 list, I will try my best to do justice, in my own limited way, to one of the most celebrated metal albums of all time. I’ll try a track-by-track approach this time.
“Battery”: Not only is this song a expertly crafted piece of musicianship from the flamenco intro to the sonic assault that constitutes the rest of the song, but its lyrics also mirror the music in philosophizing on the predilection of people to fall into dangerous and abusive habits. The “battery” in the lyrics could either refer to an electrical battery which stores up negative emotions and then violently discharges them, or to an unstoppable wall of force obliterating all in its path. These speculations aside, “Battery” is undoubtedly one of the best (and most famous) thrash songs ever written. As the first track, it sets the mood for the rest of the album and keeps the listener on edge waiting for what’s to come.
Title track: This is metal’s anthem. Just as much a classic track as “Smoke on the Water” or “Stairway to Heaven,” “Master of Puppets” features one of the most recognizable riffs and choruses in all of metaldom. This is the song that every metalhead worth their salt can sing along to or even air guitar/air drum along to. The intricacy of the song’s composition and the fact a song so popular could be 8.5 minutes long are testaments to Metallica’s ability to not only display their technical prowess, but also to captivate the listener with the overall cohesiveness and recognizability of the music. (At least these observations held sway for pre-Black Album Metallica.) As for the lyrics, MoP is a thematic continuation of “Battery.” It speaks of the loss of rationality and control over one’s life at the hands of drugs, alcohol, or whatever addictive force/Edenic serpent may be exerting its influence over oneself. Overall, this piece is an unforgettable thrill-ride and is one Metallica’s finest moments.
“The Thing That Should Not Be”: An underrated masterpiece, this song plunges the listener into the depths of Hades. It is a heavy, dark behemoth that is certainly one of Metallica’s most intense and downright creepy songs. From the menacing riffs to the tortured solo, this song qualifies as a stunning example of what I like to call “horror metal.” The twisted, Lovecraftian lyrics reflect the demonic music. While those familiar with the Cthulhu mythos can readily perceive the lyrical references to Lovecraft’s work, these lyrics also represent a continuation of the same themes of the previous songs. At this stage, the person has been completely consumed by the dark forces within him/herself and is responsible for breeding an evil monster of unimaginable terror. Thus, Cthulhu, both in this song and in the original literature, symbolizes humanity’s inner dark side and potential for destruction. Both lyrically and musically, this is an absolute beast of a song that is certainly one of my all time favorites from the band.
“Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”: Having ascended from the depths of hell and regaining some measure of dominance over his/her personal demons, “Sanitarium” represents the stage of Purgatory. The unnamed protagonist has resolved to strive for a better life but is torn by self-doubt. Fully self-conscious, the protagonist finally conquers his/her internal foes through some sort of violent act(s). This is not violence in the physical sense, but rather in the metaphorical sense of erasing one’s past life and starting afresh. And so ends the mini story arc that constitutes the first four songs of the album. Musically speaking, “Sanitarium” follows the same dynamic that the songs “One” and “Fade to Black” do. It starts off with a beautiful clean intro and then morphs into a display of headbangable technicality. It may not quite rival those two other songs, but it is certainly one of my all-time favorite “metal ballads.”
“Disposable Heroes”: Here we have Metallica’s war-themed masterpiece. It’s chock full of tasty riffs, and has that aggressive tone that me and other Metallica fans love so much about the band’s old stuff. I can’t say much else about this song other than talk about the brilliant lyrics which speak of young, innocent men being sent off to war and experiencing the horrors therein. It very much reminds me of All Quiet On the Western Front and World War I in general.
“Leper Messiah”: This is the song that took the most time for me to really appreciate and though I still think it’s the weakest track on the album, it’s still quite good. While the previous song addressed the corrosive effects of nationalism and war on the human spirit, this song aims its sights at corruption in the Church (or organized religion in general) and denounces blind adherence to dogma. Despite the considerably weakened position of the Catholic Church since the Reformation and Enlightenment, the message of this song still remains relevant as evidenced by the proliferation of both New Age and Christian cults in recent years. Just last year we had the failed prediction of Harold Camping and the financial ruin of many of his followers who had invested their life savings into his ad campaign. Clearly, Camping and his ilk are perfect examples of “leper messiahs” or, simply put, con-men who manipulate religion for personal gain. While this song is far from my top-tier of Metallica songs, it makes a very important and compelling statement as a cautionary tale.
“Orion”: Well, there’s not too much to say here other than the fact that this is my favorite metal instrumental. It is perfectly crafted from start to finish and features some of late bassist Cliff Burton’s best work. In fact, the whole band is firing on all cylinders in this song and it is definitely one that should be played more often.
“Damage Inc.”: Rounding out the album is another thrashterpiece. Like “Battery,” this song is one of the finest thrash songs ever made and is also one of Metallica’s most intense musical adventures. The lyrics speak of standing up for one’s beliefs and refusing to conform to society’s standards. Besides that, all I can say is that this is a perfect closer to a spectacular album and is sure to leave the listener with a feeling that Metallica have created something legendary with this album and created a lasting musical legacy.
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Very good write-up to a very good album, Adace. I love MoP and would rank it around the same spot, actually.
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Great album!
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:2metal:
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My second favourite Metallica album. I always preferred Ride the Lightning, but a very good album nonetheless. Nice :metalol:
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Never been a huge Metallica fan but I can recognize the greatness of this album. Nice pick!
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Your list is, in one word: solid.
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That's one fine album, obviously. Nice track by track review, Leper messiah is my least favorite on MOP as well.
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6. Muse - Absolution (2003)
(https://blaavinyl.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/muse-absolution-frontal.jpg)
Too lazy to write a track-by-track review this time so I’ll go back to the traditional format. Here we have the album that made me a Muse fan. For those who don’t know, Muse is a band that mixes experimental/progressive tendencies with alt rock in a satisfying and innovative way. They are often compared to Radiohead which makes sense in some ways, but mostly doesn’t. For one thing, Muse are a very theatrical band. They experiment quite a lot, but they develop that experimentation into something more accessible and grandiose. Radiohead, on the other hand, put experimentation at the forefront of their music; they focus on the specific sound they want rather than the structure of the song. At least that’s how I see the difference between the two bands. Anyways, this is an amazing album from an amazing band to say the least. The amount of diversity on this record, and from the band in general, is truly staggering. From the heavenly, Sinatra-esque crooning of “Blackout” to the raw metal of “Stockholm Syndrome” to the creepy, sinister “Ruled By Secrecy,” this is an album sure to have something for everyone (except maybe for rap fans). As on every album, Absolution shows the band throwing the kitchen sink into their creative process and crafting a set of truly unique songs. Of course, Muse still fit, albeit quite loosely, in the alt-rock category and, as I mentioned, their music is very theatrical so there is a sort of vague pattern tying their music together. At the same time though, you’ll be left almost completely in the dark trying to figure out what the next song will sound like. Essentially, Absolution is the anti-concept album. To be a bit cliched, each song is like a snowflake unique unto itself rather than undifferentiated raindrops. Though my tastes have developed considerably since I first heard this album six years ago, it will always be an integral part of my musical identity and I cannot recommend it enough.
Recommended songs: Stockholm Syndrome, Ruled by Secrecy, Hysteria, Blackout, Endlessly
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I will save my opinion about muse for myself.
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Knights of Cydonia and Starlight are about as far as I have gotten into Muse. Both very good songs, and kind of odd that those are the only 2 I've tried.
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Amazing album, definitely Muse's best!
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Never really got into Muse. May have to give it another go.
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never really loved muse... but i love their song Blackout alot
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Great album once again. :tup
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I'll be the asshat here; my favourite Muse album is Black Holes & Revelations.
And I don't think that deserves to be in a top 50.
Anyway, surprising choice, still a pretty good album though, but it wouldn't touch mine.
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Just read through the list, hadn't followed.
Solid picks throughout.
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Hurrah for Muse!
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5. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations (2006)
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TL44EvRYsXo/Ss1tIqcRbZI/AAAAAAAACCU/jA02P44421Q/s400/muse_black-holes-and-revelations.jpg)
Whereas Absolution is amazing and innovative in its own way, its successor further refines the Muse formula to a musical science. The epicness level is ramped up a few more notches and Muse show their most brilliant and captivating songwriting to date. The diversity on this album is truly staggering from the disco-inspired single “Supermassive Black Hole” to the metallic “Assassin” to the gentle but poignant acoustic track “Soldier’s Poem.” The lyrical content deals with conspiracy theories and sci-fi topics which only adds to my fascination with this wonderful piece of art. I can’t say that the band have reinvented their sound since, as I mentioned before, their sound is at best loosely defined. However, they have made another truly unique record and a bunch of fantastic songs. If Absolution was the album that sold me on Muse, Black Holes and Revelations is the one that endeared me to them and made them one of my favorite bands. While the quality of the band’s output underwent a fairly significant decline on The Resistance, BHaR will continue to serve as their musical legacy in that it represents one of the most innovative bands at their creative peak.
Recommended tracks: all of them
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Never really got into Muse. Even after I gave it another go recently.
Good that you're back. I had thought that list was abandoned as well. :tup
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FUCK YEAH. Like my comment came true :lol
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My least favorite Muse album, but still pretty solid.
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2 Muse albums in a row... hmmm
I sense a disturbance in the force
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4. Coldplay - X&Y (2005)
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OwC4jK2BRfQ/TCJihmsU_eI/AAAAAAAAAJg/3zEkLSEchsU/s1600/coldplaymc3.jpg)
Among Coldplay fans, the band’s third album isn’t usually rated all that highly, but I am happy to stand with the minority of fans who think this is a brilliant and beautiful slice of art-pop goodness. I’ll admit I’m biased since this is the album that got me into the band, but of course there’s no such thing as objective standards when it comes to music. There’s just something so magical and spellbinding about this album from the crisp production to Chris Martin’s soothing vocals to the use of positively enrapturing soundscapes. For a mainstream band this is a very ambitious affair, but it is also quite accessible. This balance between experimentation and accessibility features throughout the album, but is perhaps found most prominently in the song “Square One” which shifts from upbeat rock to a stripped-down, breathtaking ending. At the same time, it would be a mistake to say that that one song is vastly different from the others on the album. There is definitely a consistent mood that runs throughout and it has a much more coherent feeling than Viva la Vida and Mylo Xyloto (as much as I like those albums). While I’d probably recommend ARoBTTH for the Coldplay newcomer, X&Y to me represents the culmination of a certain sound the band had been perfecting and one that they would not repeat later. Thus, as with other albums on this list, it holds a very special place for me even though I don’t listen to it very much these days.
Recommended tracks: all of them
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I must say, the poppiness of your Top 10 surprises me, especially with what you had posted earlier. As with Muse, I don't really like Coldplay all that much - pretty forgettable, imho.
Also, get this fucking done. Some of us are waiting (no offense!). :lol
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there’s no such thing as objective standards when it comes to music.
Well done.
And that's one fine album, I tell ya. :tup
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there’s no such thing as objective standards when it comes to music.
But how else am I supposed to feel superior?!
Unexpected turns like that Coldplay album make your list all the more interesting to follow. :tup
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I must say, the poppiness of your Top 10 surprises me, especially with what you had posted earlier. As with Muse, I don't really like Coldplay all that much - pretty forgettable, imho.
Also, get this fucking done. Some of us are waiting (no offense!). :lol
I'll definitely have one more done today (hopefully two). I'm planning on wrapping this up before the weekend.
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No!
X&Y :sadpanda:
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there’s no such thing as objective standards when it comes to music.
But how else am I supposed to feel superior?!
Unexpected turns like that Coldplay album make your list all the more interesting to follow. :tup
You already know your musical taste is superior. Stop bragging about it please
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3. Radiohead - The Bends (1995)
(https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/covers/the-bends.jpg)
One of the most acclaimed albums of the 1990’s, The Bends propelled Radiohead into stardom and, along with its successor, established them as one of the biggest bands of all time. As is commonly agreed upon, this album is a massive improvement over Pablo Honey and though it’s not nearly as diverse or ambitious as Radiohead’s later works, it is still a masterpiece and a joy to listen to. Songs like “Planet Telex” and “Just” have a distinct 90’s, grungy feel to them and are perennial fan favorites (especially among those fans who favor their older work). On the other hand, songs like “Street Spirit” and “Bullet Proof” suggest some experimental leanings with the latter being soothing and melodic and the former being haunting and cathartic. If there is any comparison to be made between Radiohead and Coldplay (as is frequently done), this is definitely the album that comes closest to Coldplay’s balance between accessible and artsy. On this album, Radiohead show their growing dissatisfaction with MTV culture and their determination not to be labelled a one-hit wonder. The amount of maturity shown on this record in terms of musical sophistication, as well as in the band itself (no more party-hardy, blonde Thom Yorke) represents an incredible turnaround only to be exceeded by what the band did in the following years. Die-hard Radiohead fans will most likely focus on their later albums, but those new to the band would do well to start with this album. Not every song is amazing, but most of them are and they are truly unforgettable gems.
Recommended tracks: Just, Bulletproof, Fake Plastic Trees, Planet Telex, My Iron Lung
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there’s no such thing as objective standards when it comes to music.
But how else am I supposed to feel superior?!
Unexpected turns like that Coldplay album make your list all the more interesting to follow. :tup
You already know your musical taste is superior. Stop bragging about it please
You may be joking, but I still want to point out that this doesn't make a bit of sense.
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I love your avatar.
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The Bends is awesome. but Kid A is radiohead's best album, imo
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I love your avatar.
Why thank you, kind sir. It seems to be a hit here.
Unlike something else...
(https://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/Zook85/KR_emoticon_DTF.png)
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Wow, what a great album. :tup
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Another band that I could never get into. Shame.
And your list started out so promising... :lol
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I'm with Scorp here. I really enjoyed your list but the top 10 is killing me
Edit: Fix'd
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I'm with Scrop here.
2. Scrop
The fecal residue that forms in the crack of the buttocks, normally within an hour of a bowel movement.
Nice to know what you think of me, Nekov. :'(
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:lol. My dyslexia is pretty bad in the morning, sorry about that
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:lol. My dyslexia is pretty bad in the morning, sorry about that
Just messin' with ya. :lol :lol
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2. Radiohead - Kid A (2000)
(https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/1492/cover_714327122010.jpg)
Along with OK Computer, this is the album that put Radiohead into a class of their own. The shift from melody to texture, and rock to electronica was met with mixed reactions from fans. While there were (and still are) many fans who were unwilling to come to terms with the band’s new experimental direction, the popularity of such a viewpoint has dwindled over the years as Kid A has come to be almost universally recognized as a musical triumph, and possibly one of the greatest albums of all time. Given the sheer amount of innovation, beauty and uniqueness found on this album. I can’t help but agree with the latter sentiment. Whenever I listen to the rapturous melancholy of “How to Disappear Completely” or the dark, hypnotic meanderings of “The National Anthem,” or any other song on the album, I am consistently taken aback not only by how much the band have progressed since their very early days, but also by their ability to weave together disparate musical elements into an amazingly concise and appealing package. From Aphex Twin to Miles Davis to Can, this is an album that incorporates highly unorthodox (non-pop) sounds into a pop structure. That approach, I believe, has been the key to Radiohead’s continued success and musical greatness. To wrap it up, this is a stunning, awe-inspiring album that, if you appreciate it as I do, will leave you absolutely bewildered by its musical depth and genius.
Recommended tracks: all of them
1. Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2N39Zb05XyU/SaBdY2ksYwI/AAAAAAAAAEI/AMsVhkFv_wA/s400/Radiohead-OK_Computer-Frontal.jpg)
Choosing which album would be my #1, whether Kid A or OK Computer, was exceedingly difficult, but I simply had to go with the latter as it was the first album where I really connected with the band and, indeed, connected with them in a manner unlike any other band. The songs are absolutely brilliant of course-- from the childlike innocence of “No Surprises” to the menacing, mournful tones of “Climbing Up the Walls”-- but so is the theme of the album. It’s not a “concept album” per se, but there is a unifying theme -- namely, alienation from modern society and consumer capitalism. Thom Yorke’s lyrics may be cryptic, but they convey a sense of dissatisfaction with the mundane nature of the world and with the way people relate to each other, both socially and politically, in the modern world. Perhaps that is why this album has appealed to such a vast number of people. It’s not just the music itself that holds up the album; it is the mood of the album and how the music relates to the lyrical themes. At least that’s how I see it. This album has been interpreted and dissected in so many ways that it has a unique resonance for each person who listens to it. Plenty of others have written about this legendary album much better than I could ever hope to, so I suggest you read some professional reviews or, better yet, just give it a few listens and let it seep into your soul. If you have anything like the connection I have with this album, you will feel that it is the very essence of your musical identity and will cherish it for all time.
Recommended tracks: all of them
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Thanks for reading my thread, guys! Hope you enjoyed. (Sorry it took so long to finish.) Stay tuned for my next thread (albums 51-85). Here’s the full list of 1-50:
50. Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe
49. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
48. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
47. Devin Townsend - Ghost
46. Cynic - Traced in Air
45. The Sword - Age of Winters
44. Bjork - Homogenic
43. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
42. Kamelot - The Black Halo
41. Blackfield - Blackfield
40. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
39. Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg
38. Alcest - Souvenirs d’un Autre Monde
37. Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
36. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
35. Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain/The Mantle
34. Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
33. Deftones - Diamond Eyes
32. Opeth - Damnation
31. Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
30. Portishead - Dummy
29. System of a Down - Toxicity
28. The Mars Volta - Deloused in the Comatorium
27. Gojira - The Way of All Flesh
26. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
25. Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God
24. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
23. Orphaned Land - The Neverending Way of Orwarrior
22. Trivium - Shogun
21. Isis - Wavering Radiant
20. Animals as Leaders - Animals as Leaders
19. Katatonia - Night is the New Day
18. Rush - Moving Pictures
17. Rammstein - Reise, Reise
16. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
15. U2 - The Joshua Tree
14. Dream Theater - Images and Words
13. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
12. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
11. Opeth - Blackwater Park
10. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
9. Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
8. Tool - Lateralus
7. Metallica - Master of Puppets
6. Muse - Absolution
5. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
4. Coldplay - X&Y
3. Radiohead - The Bends
2. Radiohead - Kid A
1. Radiohead - OK Computer
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Great finish. The Bends, Kid A, and OK Computer are all fantastic albums. :tup
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I just skimmed through Kid A. I would not be able to finish that album. To each their own.
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Wow, 3 radiohead albums at the top. :lol
Good list, I enjoyed it. Lots of variety on it.
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Don't really like Radiohead but the rest of the list is fantastic! Awesome stuff.
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I absolutely love Radiohead. Kid A is in my personal top 5 albums, and as I said before - I think its their best album.
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Radiohead on top: :biggrin:
OK Computer on top of Kid A and the Bends: :-\
That aside, you listed a lot of fantastic albums, metal, prog, post, and even some normal person music.
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I'm very glad that you have finished this list, and it was really an interesting read. Your write-ups really offered insight into what you think of these albums, huge props for that. :tup
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Thanks for all the comments, guys. I appreciate all of them, even if you don't agree with my picks. :smiley:
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I guess you like Radiohead, huh?
;D
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Wow, that was a weird finish..
I could never really get into Radiohead, enjoying every other song or so. I'll try again someday.
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Wow, that was a weird finish..
I'll take that as a compliment :tup
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Wow, that was a weird finish..
I'll take that as a compliment :tup
In a sense, but after your whole top 50 I didn't expect a finish consisting solely of Muse, Coldplay and Radiohead.
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Wow, that was a weird finish..
I'll take that as a compliment :tup
In a sense, but after your whole top 50 I didn't expect a finish consisting solely of Muse, Coldplay and Radiohead.
Well, I probably should have spread them out a bit more to match the flow of the rest of the list, but there's no way I could have left any of them out. So yeah, I think I see where you're coming from.