Metal Reviews

To suit a point I had devised when arguing about how Deicide have become a pair of saggy mantits, the broader implications of which are when a band loses key creative forces and produce crap albums are they still worth supporting? Obviously, a few notable exceptions to the rule are how Black Sabbath kept going without Ozzy. But for less titanic bands operating, what are some examples of a band losing it's tour de force members and perhaps even succeeding in areas. As to note be pigheaded enough for one viewpoint, what are some contrary examples to Deicide where losing creative members lead to finding yet another equally visionary artist?

I can think of Atheist right away.
Their new stuff is kick ass, but there is no doubt that losing Rand Burkey and Roger Patterson has changed the band's sound.

And going a bit towards the metalcore side of things, Zao is a piece of shit today because there were so many line up changes and none of the newer members are on par with those on the classic metalcore albums from 1998 to 2000.
Then Russ Codgell left and the band flew down into mediocrity.
And hell, even after he came back for one album in 2004, it wasn't that good.
And then metalcore went gay after that, so whatever.

I don't know if I'd support a band that went down the toilet. I'd support them by buying their classics maybe, but I wouldn't touch their crap.
I'd see them live and hope they would play some classic songs.

That's about all I would do with them until they somehow have a miraculous recovery.

Queensryche losing DeGarmo. As a result of that they've become a shitty band playing shitty music.

Ensiferum losing Jari. Victory Songs was good, but it a noticable drop in quality. I still think that From Afar is their best yet, though.

Def Leppard losing Steve Clark .. the man was obviously the main creative force and I stopped supporting them after that. It wasn't hard, considering their music became nearly unlistenable.

If Goat mentions Skyclad, I'll give him a knuckle sandwich.

Cliff Burton, obviously. Metallica has never been the same band since. I think he was very influencial as to how the band evolved towards a more progressive sound.

Also, Ritchie Blackmore, twice with Deep Purple. And both times it lead to a surprisingly good album, Come Taste the Band and Purpendicular namely.


Correct me if I'm wrong but, didn't Degarmo return (as a guest guitarist and guest composer) for Tribe? Was that album that good? Nope. On the other hand, you have American Soldier and - excuse me - their latest which both showed a band finally feeling free to do as they please and releasing much better albums than Tribe or OMII.

He only wrote the songs(and only a few)he had nothing to do with the quality or production of the album so calling Tribe a DeGarmo album is a moot point.

And if you think their latest is a strong album than you need to get your hearing checked my friend because that is their biggest pile of shit ever.

Or maybe you need to broaden your close-minded tastes...
And I didn't say it was great, just that they finally felt free to do as they please instead of trying to appeal to metalheads which was a relief after the crapfest OMII was.

If an album sounds like shit than it's shit it has nothing to due with being close minded.

Man you sound like Ken. He too had a narrow minded viewpoint on stuff like this.

Why does it sound like shit to you?

Napalm Death don't have any original members yet still kick ass.

Fear Factory is another good example, they released some of their best albums without Dino Cazares.

Well let's see:

It's boring
It's unemotional
It's stale
It has no melody
Lyrically it's a joke. I mean it's written like it was made by a Justin Bieber fan
It lacks heart
Tate sounds cold,sterile and unfeeling. He's become lazy in his voice.

Just a few off the top of my head.

On which I disagree wholeheartedly. Maybe you just can't stomach the band straying away from their metal roots. It's a shame since it's what they've been doing since back in 1986... Maybe you just don't like Queensrÿche.

Anyway, about Dedicated to Chaos:
I didn't get bored.
It sometimes moved me.
I enjoyed many of the melodies.
I think it has more heart than most metal albums released this year.
And since I don't care much about the lyrics...

(I've already stated my feelings about Geoff Tate's vocals)

So, it's not the greatest Queensrÿche album... It still is a good album with enough good tunes to make me happy with it. After almost 30 years, it's more than I expected from Tate & Co.

After the masterpiece that was In Sorte Diaboli Dimmu borgir losing mustis and vortex and hellhammer being replaced was a big change in sound on the next record, not that abrahadabra was bad by any means, it was just a very different sounding record.

Jason Newstead leaves Metallica, and St Anger follows. Not saying Metallica didnt suck leading up to it, but releasing one of the worst albums ever following his departure? Hmmm.....

I don't think the album would have been any better with Newsted... or Trujillo or any other bassist on the planet. So, Bob Rock on bass? Who hears the bass on a Metallica album anyway (since Cliff's death, that is)?

I was about to say at least Newsted has some metal cred then I realized he blew them off for Echobrain.

But won them again by joining Voivod.