Metal: Cult Classics Pt. II
Second part of the series. Again 10 albums with somewhat of a "cult classic" status that (again, at the time of writing) have less than 100 votes. |
| 1 |  | Manilla Road
Open the Gates
The album where "The Road" began to incorporate some more thrash into their sound. What's striking is that this album sounds even more gritty in comparison to its predecessor - which only adds to the mystical aura of it all (not that mystical aura is lacking from any classic MR release). With song material ranging from no frills heavy metal rippers to ominous epics (look no further than the thunderous "The Ninth Wave"), Open the Gates is strike two in Manilla Road's impeccable four-album-streak. |
| 2 |  | Sabbat
History of a Time to Come
Of course, Dreamweaver rules, but I somehow feel that this debut is slightly overlooked in comparison. Already evident from this album is that Sabbat manages to conjure a "medieval" atmosphere without using actual straight up folk. This is mostly thanks to the way Walkyier vehemently spits out the almost poetic lyrics like a raging inquisitor. Definitely one of the more unique thrash bands at the time. |
| 3 |  | Slough Feg
Down Among the Dead Men
Slough Feg on this album manages to create a sound I can only describe as "Iron Maiden in the Wild West". There's the melodic instrumental approach of the legends' classic metal sound, but at the same time Slough Feg manages to create some kind of weird "outlaw gunslinger" universe for the music to live in.
Traveller seems to be the band's most talked about album, but I can't help but feel that this is their strongest work - the atmosphere is top notch, the songwriting terrific and the riffs have quite a bit of oomph to them. |
| 4 |  | Abigor
Nachthymnen (From The Twilight Kingdom)
Black metal that manages to be raw and melodic at the same time. The melodies, as well as the use of synth soundscapes, create a majestic feeling without diminishing the evil and aggressive vibe of the music itself. |
| 5 |  | Esoteric
Metamorphogenesis
Metamorphogenesis is probably the best starting point to Esoteric; it's both their shortest album, as well as a full illustration of their sound. If you hate the kind of music you're hearing here, you're best of not to start with their other, longer albums.
Either way, despite it's shorter (by Esoteric standards) runtime, the band created some of their greatest compositions for this album. Personally I feel it's not even fair to lump them under the "funeral doom" moniker as Esoteric has a sound that defies specific categorization: cosmic, psychedelic, psychological and psychotic. |
| 6 |  | Graveland
Following The Voice Of Blood
A perfect fusion of raw black metal and folk - the latter being evident in the almost mystical melodies used in the music. This is Graveland's strongest album imho and one that creates vivid images of forgotten times. |
| 7 |  | Confessor
Condemned
Doom riffs played like technical thrash metal riffs coupled with high pitched Geddy Lee-like wailing vocals. This probably shouldn't work but somehow it creates a warped, almost schizophrenic feeling.
The stereotypical love it/hate it album; the very definition of a "cult classic". |
| 8 |  | October Tide
Rain Without End
This could be seen as "Brave Murder Day Pt. II" though there's a certain Dance of December Souls influence as well - mostly evident in the almost spectral use of synths and off-kilter melodies. The album also features Renkse's final growling performance and his low grunts have a hollow, almost ghost-like quality to them.
This may not have Brave Murder Day's status, but in terms of quality it's comparable to that classic imo. |
| 9 |  | Sabbat (JPN)
The Dwelling
The "other" Sabbat from Japan. First wave blackened thrash with an avant gardish approach, making me almost describe them as a "progressive Venom". The Dwelling is a one-song-album, The Melody of Deathmask, which runs for about an hour. Blackish thrashy parts make room for almost jam session-like melodic parts make room for straight up weirdness - all in an amazingly smooth flow - creating a "tour guide through a dusty haunted house-like" feeling. |
| 10 |  | Kataklysm
Sorcery
Kataklysm would turn into an entirely different entity by now - one I don't really like - but it's the debut which remains a classic of original death metal. Chaotic and insane while at the same time melodic and mystical, Sorcery is an album that feels like an earthquake in a surreal landscape. No thanks to the later stuff, this is where it's at! |
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