Little Known Great Albums

You ever discover an album that is just killer, but went largely unnoticed? I'm sure we've all discovered albums like this. So let's share them.

WICKED MARAYA - CYCLES


A few years back I stumbled upon an album called Cycles by Wicked Maraya. I'd never heard of the band at that point. I know consider Cycles to be one of the best 90s metal albums released. The album came out on Mausoleum Records in 1994. Musically it's a mix of 80s metal and a darker 90s metal style, similar to Alice In Chains. There's some really killer melodies on the album, too. Lou Falco's vocals are outstanding—powerful, dirty, nice range.

I consider Cycles to be something of an undiscovered masterpiece. They had too much 80s metal/rock in the mix, and too little of that 90s sound, so they went unnoticed. Unfortunately, while Cycles is excellent, the band decided to switch gears on the two follow-up albums. They changed their name to Maraya and went in a more mainstream direction. This was obviously a little unnatural for them, as both No Hope For Humanity...? and Counterculture suffered in the songwriting department. They're not bad albums, and they both have some really good songs, but they don't even compare to Cycles. The band broke up shortly after the release of Counterculture in 1998. Cycles is a truly awesome album, though.

I'm not sure what happened to the rest of the band, but Lou Falco resurfaced in a cover band call—brace yourselves!—Funkette. Haha. In his defense, though, if you check out the photos on their website (http://www.funkette.com), it may not have been a bad deal. Plus, good cover bands can make a ton of cash. He's since left the band, and I have no idea what he's up to. But you can still download the entire Cycles album from that website; and you can snag some songs from the other two albums. But for an immediate fix:

WICKED MARAYA - ALONE
WICKED MARAYA - RESURRECTION
WICKED MARAYA - LEGEND
WICKED MARAYA - ANOTHER DAY (Video)

Download the complete album here: http://www.funkette.com/wicked-maraya.html

* Please try to include links to songs or videos if you share an album you think fits in this thread.

We talked about this album about a year ago, so I went out and got
it. Thought it was pretty standard - so if anyone has anything to
trade, let me know. i mean it is good for what it is, just not my
thing.

Cool. People here know about it? Nice! This forum rules. I have an extra copy of Counterculture, too, if anyone wants it.

Yah, I ran across it in a used CD shop about a year and a half ago, not long after it was talking about (on the old board I believe). It was ok for what it was, but like UncleSaxon said, not really my thing.

Holy Terror - Mind Wars

I know they have fans, but I marvel that Holy Terror is not given their due. I think Mind Wars is an amazing release. I just got El Revengo, which contains Terror and Submission, so I have not yet explored that release.

I know they didn't release much, but look at Cynic. They are consodered legendary for their one album, but I get much more enjoyment from Holy Terror.


ack

Seventh Angel - Lament for the Weary

One of the greatest metal albums most metal fans have never heard.



Detritus - Perpetual Defiance

A solid British thrash album with killer artwork done by Rodney Matthews.

Nightmare - The Dominion Gate

Elvenking - Wyrd and The Winter Wake


These two pop into mind....I almost never see their names pop up anywhere....

THOUGHT INDUSTRY- "Songs For Insects"...one of the most musically insane cds in my collection....which is probably what alienated them from the average joe listener...

Another that comes to mind is SKEW SISKIN...came out in like 1992...the cover art led one to believe the some rungy alterna-metal band buthat ths german outfit peddled was actually stright up balls out sleazy glammy metal...

ultmetal wrote:

Detritus - Perpetual Defiance

A solid British thrash album with killer artwork done by Rodney Matthews.

I have this LP. Not bad Testament worship. They have sophomore album from 1993 which I never managed to find though.

I'd add to the list:

END AMEN - Your Last Orison: side project by Deathrow and Psychotic Waltz members. Fantastic progressive thrash with futuristic overtones, way ahead of its time.

scottmitchell74 wrote:

Nightmare - The Dominion Gate

I have this one to review. Solid CD.

Seventh Angel - Lament for the Weary

One of the greatest metal albums most metal fans have never heard.



Agreed! If only Ian stuck to this style.

Overthrow - Within Suffering

Awesome brutal technical thrash metal from Canada. After this, their only album, they split up. The album was produced by Scott Burns, who produced bands such as Death, Gorguts, Sadus, etc.

POWERLORD - The Awakening (1986)



Over-the-top power / speed / thrash (somewhere in between) release from
this US band - sadly ther only one. According to Metal Archives, their
drummer used to be in Dark Angel and even Slayer!

i have the Wicked Maraya on a cassette. it's decent, but i don't like it enough to upgrade my copy.

stormspell wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Detritus - Perpetual Defiance

A solid British thrash album with killer artwork done by Rodney Matthews.

I have this LP. Not bad Testament worship. They have sophomore album from 1993 which I never managed to find though.

I have both Detritus albums. Never thought of them as "Testament
worship" though. They have a very 'British' sound IMO. Sort of like
Iron Maiden playing thrash metal, if that makes sense.

I agree, Detritus is awesome and few have heard of them.

speaking of an Iron Maiden type thrash band, I used to have an LP by a band called Tension(I cant remember the album title for the life of me and I couldnt find a google search either, I think it was called "Breaking Point") from 1987. They sounded totally like Iron Maiden would sound if they played thrash, I mean real speed metal with an awesome bass guitar all-over-the-place based sound. If anyone has ever heard of this band, you know what I mean. They were phenominal.

ultmetal wrote:

I have both Detritus albums. Never thought of them as "Testament
worship" though. They have a very 'British' sound IMO. Sort of like
Iron Maiden playing thrash metal, if that makes sense.

Yeah, they are much closer to Xentrix or Stygian.

ack

stormspell wrote:

I'd add to the list:

END AMEN - Your Last Orison: side project by Deathrow and Psychotic Waltz members. Fantastic progressive thrash with futuristic overtones, way ahead of its time.

I want this! I have recently really got into Psychotic Waltz (another band that could be added to the list) and I am looking for End Amen.

ack

AchrisK wrote:

stormspell wrote:

I'd add to the list:

END AMEN - Your Last Orison: side project by Deathrow and Psychotic Waltz members. Fantastic progressive thrash with futuristic overtones, way ahead of its time.

I want this! I have recently really got into Psychotic Waltz (another band that could be added to the list) and I am looking for End Amen.

ack

That End Amen is awesome! I've been trying to score a copy for almost 2 years now.

I'll add to the list:

Mottek - Fatal Violence
Razor-sharp German thrash!

Sacrificial - Forever Entangled
Very heavy thrash from Denmark. Brings to mind Invocator.

LawShed - Let Us Not Talk Falsely
As with most Japanese bands, no one seems to know of them! CRIMINAL I tell you!

Even lesser known would be great Korean thrash monsters:

CRASH



Both "To Be of Not To Be" & "Endless Supply of Pain" are brilliant!

Their are so many increible cool records that are little know. For exemple MATAKOPAS:COMING OUT AHEAD from 87.

Yet another chance to plug Soltilege "Metmorpose"! Brilliant dark melodic 80's power metal from France (bonus tracks in English). Kind of a cross between Warlord and early TNT; but heavier than either.

SAHB Healer wrote:

Yet another chance to plug Soltilege "Metmorpose"! Brilliant dark melodic 80's power metal from France (bonus tracks in English). Kind of a cross between Warlord and early TNT; but heavier than either.

I'd hope everyone here would know Sortilege...
Anyway, I'd go with Hero's Tears - much better than Metamorphose imo.

I have many of the bands mentioned here, including the Wicked Maraya CD. I might have been the one starting the thread on the old board, as I really like the CD. I discovered them through another board I frequent, and a the same time I also found SCREAMER and LETHAL, both great bands that so few people know about. Now, I wanna add the best metal band you've never heard: ARTCH! They released to fantastic metal albums during the late 80's, early 90's. Look them up guys!