Radagast wrote:
So what did the black album define? That the only way Metal could get on the radio was to be watered down to such a state that it became uninteresting? Great claim to fame there.
What did Burn My Eyes define?
The black album is like the starting point for the mainstream -- not only of the general public, but metal as well -- to accept metal other than hair/glam metal. Sure, Metallica went platinum with
Justice, but the main line in metal until the black album was essentially still glam/hair metal. What was big in the late 80's and early 90's? F***ing crap like Poison, Warrant, Bullet Boys, and what have you, even G'n'R which I hated and still hate...
As you and other said also, it has been a "gateway" album for many folks. Same thing as
Back in Black, which is arguably not that much different from what AC/DC did before, but so many headbangers heard/bought it, that it was important for the era.
I don't consider
Burn My Eyes a classic on the level as the black album, more like a minor classic, something that is one of the most representative albums of the zeitgeist of the time. On a similar level, I would choose
Vulgar Display of Power,
Heartwork, and take your pick of any Morbid Angel from
Blessed... to
Domination (not a big fan, but would consider one of their albums, probably Blessed, a classic of the time). Obviously, these choices reflect my personal opinions, but I think the vast majority of metalheads would think these choices reasonable, if not necessarily exactly the same ones they would make. Almost forgot, I'd throw in
Anthems to the Welkin... among that lot as well.