Metal bands that were formed in the 70s/80s & early 90s that are better now than they were back then

Kreator always comes to mind in these discussions.

For me? None. I re read the three pages of this thread twice and can't think of a single band in my collection from either the 70's or 80's that is better now than they were then. There a re a lot of bands (Accept, Raven, Priest, Maiden, Whitesnake, House of Lords, Impelliterri) whose newer output is excellent and rivals the classic years of that band; but in my humble opine does not surpass the classic years.

I can agree with Sentinel on this. None that I can think of. Bands like Overkill, Kreator, even Stryper are putting out solid material that can stand with some of their earlier works but nothing that is better than their younger days.
They had that hunger early in their career which made them dangerous, so to speak.

I've been checking out Kreator's later works (1999-current). I already knew Phantom Antichrist is excellent. It might even be my favorite of theirs. It definitely rivals Pleasure To Kill and Terrible Certainty and might even be more solid. I listened to Endorama on Spotify and really liked it also. It takes their sound in another direction. "Chosen Few" is completely different from their other material. I'm now listening to Hordes of Chaos but don't really care for that one.

80s Metal Lady wrote:

I've been checking out Kreator's later works (1999-current). I already knew Phantom Antichrist is excellent. It might even be my favorite of theirs. It definitely rivals Pleasure To Kill and Terrible Certainty and might even be more solid. I listened to Endorama on Spotify and really liked it also. It takes their sound in another direction. "Chosen Few" is completely different from their other material. I'm now listening to Hordes of Chaos but don't really care for that one.

I love Endorama, I wish that they had made more music like that.

Not digging Violent Revolution, either. I guess unless Kreator comes out with another album on par with Phantom Antichrist, I'll stick with Saxon as my answer to this thread.

Winger

Their last few are so much better than the their first 2.

I really don't think *better* really matters that much. If you go through music history most artists had a career peak of 10 years or less. However, just because a band maybe isn't quite as good now as they were 20, 30 or 40 years ago doesn't mean the music can't be enjoyable or become a worthwhile addition to your music collection.

Deep Purple released Now What?! a couple years ago and I absolutely love that album. It doesn't have the same impact as the stuff they released 40+ years earlier...but it's a damn fine record and in my opinion the best album they had done since 1995. If a band can still put out good records 40 years into their career they should be celebrated, not critiqued for failing to top what they did when they were in their early 20s.

S.D. wrote:

I really don't think *better* really matters that much.  If you go through music history most artists had a career peak of 10 years or less.  However, just because a band maybe isn't quite as good now as they were 20, 30 or 40 years ago doesn't mean the music can't be enjoyable or become a worthwhile addition to your music collection.  

Deep Purple released Now What?! a couple years ago and I absolutely love that album.  It doesn't have the same impact as the stuff they released 40+ years earlier...but it's a damn fine record and in my opinion the best album they had done since 1995.  If a band can still put out good records 40 years into their career they should be celebrated, not critiqued for failing to top what they did when they were in their early 20s.  

I think that can be true but i think there are some bands whose output now is much better than their previous material.

Now What?! is an amazing album. Driving to Maine last year to celebrate my 40th, the wife and I played that album at least three times.

I also am of the mind that DP never really put out a bad album.

Overkill - No (First 3 are too classic to be topped, although they do try)
Kreator - No (Recent stuff is good, but early stuff is legendary)
Accept - Hell NO!! (Without Udo there's no cigar, sorry)
Sodom - Wait, you are telling me there is a good Sodom album?   (in any case Expurse of Sodomy EP 1987 is their apogee, so the answer is No)

Iron Maiden - Final Frontier better than the 80s albums? Sir, I'll have to ask you to step away from the turntable and surrender your heavy metal license