Random Metal Thoughts

Listening to 'Among The Living'...Joey Belladonna sucks.

Can't wait for the new Anthrax...Joey Belladonna rules.

This year has been a very slow year for new releases. I haven't bought anything in a month.

I was just noticing as I was taking my walk cranking 'ATL' in my earbuds...he always sounds like he's struggling to keep up with the pace...he sounds rushed and out of key a lot of times...no intensity and no power. Why Anthrax are a Big 4 band over Exodus or Testament is a mystery to me.

Witchfinder wrote:

This year has been a very slow year for new releases.  I haven't bought anything in a month.  

Agreed. Coming up on mid-year already and I've only purchased 10 2015 releases, with not many more on the horizon.

Shawn of Fire wrote:

Why Anthrax are a Big 4 band over Exodus or Testament is a mystery to me.

I've always thought that in regards to the other 3 of the Big 4, Joey was unique that he was a real singer in a thrash band, not just a screamer or shouter.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

This year has been a very slow year for new releases.  I haven't bought anything in a month.  

Agreed. Coming up on mid-year already and I've only purchased 10 2015 releases, with not many more on the horizon.

Shawn of Fire wrote:

Why Anthrax are a Big 4 band over Exodus or Testament is a mystery to me.

I've always thought that in regards to the other 3 of the Big 4, Joey was unique that he was a real singer in a thrash band, not just a screamer or shouter.

Are there any major releases coming out this year. We've got Armored Saint next week, and I am looking forward to Orchid's new EP that's been pushed back to July. What else is there? Anthrax maybe? Testament?

I really want to hear the new FNM, but I'm also half afraid to pick it up in case it blows yaks.

I've only picked up one new release this year. I hope to change that with the new Armored Saint.

Witchfinder wrote:

Are there any major releases coming out this year.  We've got Armored Saint next week, and I am looking forward to Orchid's new EP that's been pushed back to July.  What else is there?  Anthrax maybe?  Testament?  

The only new releases I have on my want-list for now are:
Armored Saint
Art of Anarchy (that Scott Weiland debacle)
Freedom Hawk (06.23)
Night Flight Orchestra (06.09?)
Slayer (09.11)
Atomic B*tchwax (out now)

There are probably some others that haven't been announced yet or that I'm forgetting. I haven't heard if the new Anthrax will be this year or not. Maybe in the fall? Megadeth maybe too, if they're in the studio now. I'll probably get Whitesnake's Purple Album at some point too, but I'm in no rush for that one.

EDIT: I see that The Vintage Caravan has a new one out next week (Thanks SpringOzzy). I dig these guys, so that's going on the list, STAT!

I always thought that anthrax are a bit overrated. I mean I own most of their catalogue and do enjoy some of their songs. But they are way behind bands like testament, exodus and overkill.

New helloween is out too. Hope it's a good one. I loved their last couple of releases.

Gilbert wrote:

New helloween is out too. Hope it's a good one. I loved their last couple of releases.

Oh yeah ! I forgot about that one. That's on the want list.

I need more Overkill CDs.

I think 1997 was the year that metal began its comeback from the underground.

Overkill - From The Underground And Below
Bruce Dickinson - Accident of Birth
Judas Priest - Jugulator
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings
Exodus - Another Lesson In Violence
Iced Earth - Days of Purgatory
Saxon - Unleash The Beast

Things didn't seem so grim anymore with these releases hitting the market. Also, the Kiss reunion was still going strong and Black Sabbath had reunited.

I wish there was a new Destruction album coming out. Spiritual Genocide was killer IMHO.

1996 wasn't too shabby either:

Accept – Predator
Arch Enemy - Black Earth
Ayreon - Actual Fantasy
Bathory - Blood on Ice
Behemoth - Grom
Bruce Dickinson - Skunkworks
Cannibal Corpse - Vile
Cathedral - Supernatural Birth Machine
Cryptopsy - None So Vile
Dio - Angry Machines
Edge of Sanity - Crimson
Helloween - The Time Of The Oath
Hypocrisy - Abducted
In Flames - The Jester Race
Iced Earth - The Dark Saga
King Diamond – The Graveyard
Katatonia - Brave Murder Day
Manowar - Louder Than Hell
My Dying Bride - Like Gods of the Sun
Nevermore - The Politics of Ecstasy
Neurosis - Through Silver in Blood
Opeth - Morningrise
Overkill – The Killing Kind
Sepultura - Roots
Sentenced - Down
Stratovarius - Episode
Theatre of Tragedy - Velvet Darkness They Fear

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Listening to 'Among The Living'...Joey Belladonna sucks.

No way. He was awesome on STD. It was that atonal music with those clumsy transitions that makes it so hard to sing over.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

I was just noticing as I was taking my walk cranking 'ATL' in my earbuds...he always sounds like he's struggling to keep up with the pace...he sounds rushed and out of key a lot of times...no intensity and no power. Why Anthrax are a Big 4 band over Exodus or Testament is a mystery to me.

Sales.

Joey's voice is more palatable than Souza/Baloff.

Testament sounded too much like a combo between Metallica and Slayer and lacked originality.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I've always thought that in regards to the other 3 of the Big 4, Joey was unique that he was a real singer in a thrash band, not just a screamer or shouter.

Bingo. And a great one at that.

Witchfinder wrote:

Are there any major releases coming out this year.  We've got Armored Saint next week, and I am looking forward to Orchid's new EP that's been pushed back to July.  What else is there?  Anthrax maybe?  Testament?  

Yeah.  Anthrax.  Testament.  Slayer.  Iron Maiden.  Queensryche.  Megadeth.

Witchfinder wrote:

I think 1997 was the year that metal began its comeback from the underground.

Overkill - From The Underground And Below
Bruce Dickinson - Accident of Birth
Judas Priest - Jugulator
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings
Exodus - Another Lesson In Violence
Iced Earth - Days of Purgatory
Saxon - Unleash The Beast

Things didn't seem so grim anymore with these releases hitting the market.  Also, the Kiss reunion was still going strong and Black Sabbath had reunited.

Agreed!

And Death metal was getting more brutal and interesting as well.

Prog metal/power metal came back with bands like Hammerfall.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

1996 wasn't too shabby either:
Iced Earth - The Dark Saga
King Diamond – The Graveyard

TDS is a HORRIBLE album. Even by ICED EARTH standards. One of the most boring metal albums ever.

I love "The Graveyard" and think it may be my favorite KD from start to finish, right up there with Abigail even though he is singing much lower on that album.

1997 was a great year... I remember thinking that it was the first year in quite a while where it felt like something was "happening" in the metal scene.

I can take or leave Among the Living nowadays. I played it so much back in the day that I think I just made myself sick of it. I always preferred Spreading the Disease anyway.

Hate Dark Saga.

Hate Joey.

Disease > ATL

Temple of Blood wrote:

TDS is a HORRIBLE album.  Even by ICED EARTH standards.  One of the most boring metal albums ever.

I agree. My least favorite Iced Earth by far.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I always preferred Spreading the Disease anyway.

Yes. I like Among The Living but Spreading The Disease is far superior.