Metal Reviews

Hmm. Will check that out. I briefly went through that thread a little while ago and didn't understand it. I guess it has to do with a game called mafia? Maybe that's why I didn't understand.

I know I'm missing out on some of the historical importance of these albums because I wasn't born until '88. And I've been into metal for just long enough to understand that the timing is important. So I have no doubt that Master of Puppets is a really, really big deal to anyone who listened to it in '86. But when I listened to it for the first time in like 2002, I was disappointed that it didn't live up to the hype and kept playing Battery and Disposable Heroes because those songs kick ass (though Disposable Heroes should really be about three minutes shorter than it is).


I picked '85 but I'm really not sure if I agree with myself. It's a tough call. Bonded by Blood was the tipping point.

I agree with you in that at times, timing does play a factor. By the time I listened to MOP, I had already listened to other albums that I feel are much better. I am not denying the classic status of that album, but had MOP been released today, there is a good chance that it may not have had as much an impact as it did back in '86.

When I first heard MoP, I thought it was great. But even then I liked RtL and KEA better plus everything Megadeth did I thought was much better.

Nowadays I find it hard to listen to Metallica. I'd rather much listen to Pleasure to Kill, Peace Sells, Hell Awaits, Infernal Overkill, Feel the Fire, Darkness Descends, Brain Damage, Death Squad, Why Play Around, the list goes on. Really when it comes to Metallica, if it's not Kill Em All, I usually shut it off. Except for the occasional Justice song.

Timing is importent. If "Reign in Blood" was released now, none would even care. But we might not have had half the bands we have today. By the way, I voted '86, because MoP and RiB were some of the albums that got me into metal in the first place. MoP is really overrated though. My favorite Metallica album is "....And Justice for All" followed by RtL. But I also usually listen to '90-'96 albums. Early Death and Black Metal etc. or new stuff, even I also spin the '80s Thrash at least once a month, most of the albums on your list. I also have a habit of going through the Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd Discography once a month.

86, mainly for Reign in Blood, Peace Sells, PTK, Under the Sign of the Black Mark, Somewhere in Time, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus and The Dark, but also for some great albums that you miss in your list, like Rage For Order or The Deluge.

Yes!!!
How could I miss that???

I picked '86. It was a mega-thrash year, although I'm not a very BIG thrasher.

1985. Afterall, Exodus, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Possessed, Destruction, Whiplash, and Bathory all fucking dedicated their albums to the birth of a new metalhead (ie. me!) Just before my birth Exodus were like: "Bangers take your stand and OBEY!...OUR METAL COMMAND!" and then I air guitared my way out of the womb and voila! a new metalhead was born!

I have to agree that a year without a new Maiden album was cause for a down year in metal during the 80's. However, there were a few other fantastic metal/hard rock mentions from1986 for me personally:

Queensryche: Rage For Order
Warlock: True As Steel
Loudness: Lightning Strikes
Black Sabbath: Seventh Star
Tesla: Mechanical Resonance
Fates Warning: Awaken The Guardian