Metal: Cult Classics Pt. X
Long time, back with another list. Same rules, but you'll get 25 this time. |
| 1 |  | Manilla Road
Mystification
Strange that this beast is still below 100 votes. Probably my favorite Manilla Road record and that's saying something. The mystical yet thrashy sound is in full force here with an extra serving of eeriness. |
| 2 |  | Solstafir
Masterpiece of Bitterness
Back when their music still had balls, retaining some of the extreme metal elements while showing clear signs of the post-rock direction they'd fully take later on, resulting in an atmosphere of complete despair and desolation. |
| 3 |  | Pentagram
Be Forewarned
Armed with a monstrously heavy guitar tone and a hazy drug-addled vibe the band delivers the final highpoint of their career. |
| 4 |  | Tiamat
The Astral Sleep
A long time before they developed into the makeup and nail polish goth rock band of now, Tiamat was actually an interesting outfit putting their own unique spin on death metal with a dark and doomish exotic atmospheric twist. |
| 5 |  | Pungent Stench
Been Caught Buttering
Disgusting death metal with clear bluesy hard rock sensibilities; if only this was the way the "death 'n' roll" sound went into. |
| 6 |  | Omen
Warning of Danger
Testosterone-filled old school USPM as we know and love from the mighty Omen. This shit grows hair on your chest. |
| 7 |  | Death Strike
Fuckin Death
With Death Strike (and his later better known band Master), Paul Speckmann offered an alternate take on death metal. One more influenced by hardcore punk than thrash, though of course the metal's still there. This is Speckmann's best set of material afaic. Vicious stuff which makes you want to tear someone else's face off. |
| 8 |  | Nasty Savage
Indulgence
Wayward thrash with batshit insane vocals. All classic records by this band rule. Don't sleep on them. |
| 9 |  | Unholy (FIN)
Rapture
The oddball Finnish death/doomsters take you through another one of their dreamlike murky trips. |
| 10 |  | Adramelch
Irae Melanox
The Italian take on early Fates Warning. Needs a couple of spins, but in a weird way it'll worm its way into your brain. |
| 11 |  | Deceased
The Blueprint For Madness
Filthy deathgrind with a progressive spin? An oddball record, even for the band itself, but an incredibly overlooked piece of work. |
| 12 |  | Doomsword
Let Battle Commence
Epic metal with an almost hypnotic pounding riff-structure. As pure as it gets. |
| 13 |  | Miasma
Changes
A hellish slab of death metal with a haunting quality to its underlying melodies and the downright demonic vocal performance. |
| 14 |  | Paul Chain
Alkahest
Unique, hypnotic doom metal with an inexplicably eerie vibe to it - probably because of the fact that Paul Chain himself doesn't use lyrics but makes some phonetic sounds.
A couple of tracks are guested by Lee Dorrian - who does a better job than on any Cathedral record post Forest of Equilibrium. |
| 15 |  | Sabbat (JPN)
Karisma
These crazy Japanese with another one of their Venom-inspired black thrash scorchers. Possibly their best work next to The Dwelling. |
| 16 |  | The Obsessed
Lunar Womb
Better known from Saint Vitus fame, Wino made some stellar rock-out-with-your-cock-out old school doom with his other band. |
| 17 |  | Varathron
His Majesty At The Swamp
Early Rotting Christ cousins; you know what to expect from the original Hellenic strain of black metal and these guys did it exceptionally well. |
| 18 |  | Running Wild
Gates to Purgatory
Before the, nonetheless awesome, pirate-themed heavy metal the band made this little satanic speed metal record which shows that they've been riff-maestros throughout their career. |
| 19 |  | Order From Chaos
An Ending In Fire
This classic band's swan song. Worth it alone for the beast that is "There Lies Your Lord, Father of Victories". OOOOHHH BOY! |
| 20 |  | Saturnus
Martyre
With their brand of melodic death/doom, the Danish band created a record of almost unbearable mourning. Seriously, this is genuinely sad stuff. |
| 21 |  | Morpheus Descends
Chronicles of the Shadowed Ones
Dark and crushing old school NYDM. The band's second and sadly final classic. |
| 22 |  | Rigor Mortis
Freaks
Scaccia's mangled and diseased riffs coupled with the rabid vocals make for one deliciously grimy EP. |
| 23 |  | Brocas Helm
Defender of the Crown
BUTTERFLIES AND UNICORNS ARE FROM A DIFFERENT AGE! SO FUCK THE SIGNS OF PEACE AND LOVE, ALL HAIL THE BATTLE RAAAAGGGGEEEEE!
The above says it all, doesn't it? The prime example of the metal band that doesn't take itself serious yet is still able to deliver some ripping heavy metal. Who doesn't love those unnecessarily multi-tracked reverb-soaked vocals this band uses? |
| 24 |  | Absu
Barathrum V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
A somewhat "death-ier" affair than their later work, this one nonetheless manages to create an aura of hellish terror. Shamefully underrated record. |
| 25 |  | The Chasm
Procession to the Infraworld
A somewhat "pointier" affair than our Mexican friends' other records, yet it still delivers the band's sound in all of its riffing and atmospheric glory. Corchado, we salute you! |
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