Metal Reviews

Whenever one buys a live recording whether ie be audio or visual, one usually takes a fifty fifty chance in terms of quality, While people usually sing the praises of Unleashed in the East or any other live album from upper tier bands, what are some live albums, songs or dvds that are equally excellent in quality yet lesser known. What makes the piece memorable whether it be fan interaction, setlist, or atmosphere

This should be interesting. I usually don't pay attention to live albums very much, so it will be cool to hear what to look out for or what to avoid and so on.

One live album that I own and love is Gorefest's The Eindhoven Insanity. I find some live albums muddy and hard to listen to, with too much rambling between songs and so on, but that live album is pretty stellar and was actually what introduced me to the awesomeness that is Gorefest. Highly recommend it.

Can't think of many. Cryptopsy - None So Live is pretty great. Not a big fan of lives in general, Rush has some good ones.

Quality live albums of lesser known bands ? That's a tough one... Besides, "quality live" is very subjective. And so is "top tier band".

- Candlemass - Live in Birmingham 1988 comes to mind, although the noise made by the audience is not taped, which leads to goofy parts in some songs. Actually, some people would probably say this live sucks.

- Iced Earth - Alive in Athens : don't know if you consider Iced Earth being a "top tier" band. If so, well, you're right. And if not, there's always Alive in Athens which is pretty much legendary.

- Pretty Maids - Screamin' Live : I discovered the band with this live and was hooked quickly, so i guess it's a good sign.

- Symphony X - Live on the edge of forever : Pretty great IMHO, although the point would be to SEE them live, not only hear.

Those are not underground bands, I just can't think of more "obscure" ones.

Mayhem - Live in Leipzig

Better than almost all of their discography.

"Are you dead? Ha? CARNAAGE!"

lol. The irony.

Blind Guardian's Tokyo Tales isn't too bad at all.

I only like a few because that is how I first started listening to the band. I don't wanna hear live after I've heard the studio versions. Except for Dream Theater and Rush:

Sonata Arctica - For the sake of revenge (audio disc)
Tribuzy - Live Execution (video and audio)

Vision Divine - Stage of consciousness

again, I like all the R & DT DVDs and audios.

Slipknot - Disasterpieces

I'd probably like the Hammerfall DVD too.

My favourite live album is Alive 2 by Anthrax, it's my favourite Anthrax album aswell. It brings together most of their best songs, and with them being a bit inconsistent I think it makes for their best album.

Kamelot - One Cold Winter's Night is a good one.

Also enjoy King's X Live all Over the Place and their newest one, cant remember the name. They have a great live atmosphere, and both versions of Over My Head are really cool extended versions where Doug goes into a speach. The one on Live all Over is over the top, but the other one is really deep and moving.

This and Evergrey-A Night To Remember

Dark Angels Live scars never gets its credit, though granted anyone who is familiar with their sound knows the riffing is incredibly fast and turbulent. Also Deaths Live in LA though being from Death is usually skipped out on. Chucks vocals are passionate, and it was my first encounter with any of Deaths work way back. Some other close contenders for my favorites being Mediolanum Capta Est, I love Maniacs vocals and to hear him sing with Attila was something else. Though seeing them live was a lifechanging experience as well, Attila really is a trip to hear when he sings the classic Dmds songs. Inquisition need to do a live album IMo

I love both Death and Dark Angel but have never given either live album a chance. Hmm.

Never heard live Dark Angel either. I need to check that out.

Agreed on Death's Live in L.A. First and only time I watched that DVD was when Chuck died, but I remember it was very good. I should really watch that again sometime.

+1 on Live in Leipzig, None So Live and live Candlemass.

Seeing some of the titles pop up here, would it be appropriate to add Emperial Live Ceremony? Always enjoyed that dvd, watched it like twice a day when I first got it.

Also gonna add Carpathian Forests' We're Going to Hollywood For This. Another good one, and hopefully get to see them live one day.

I own the live Dark Angel, it's nothing special. Sure, it's pretty intense and was probably an awesome show to be at. But the cd itself sounds like garbage.

Yeah +1 and its also one of the coolest DVD names ever.

Carpathian Forest is one of the very few bands I'd kill to see live.

That and ImpNaz's Death Comes in 26 Carefully Selected Pieces are probably the only live albums I actually listen to/care about.

Actually, In the Woods... have a double disc live album that is pretty fucking good too.

I love CC's Live Cannibalism more than any of their studio albums.

It has an emotion and intensity that is lacking in other places.

Though I disagree with you about their albums, it really is high quality for a live album. I COOOOOOOOOM BLOOOOOOOOOOD