Average Rating: 3.41 Rating Variance: 0.67 Objectivity Score: 81% (Well Balanced)
Sorted by Rating | Sort by Name5 classicBlack Sabbath ParanoidParanoid created heavy metal. Yes it did, Black Sabbath may have contained the first heavy metal tracks, but was all blues-rock apart from that. Now this, this is what created true 'EVY METUL. Powerful riffs, dark bass lines, wicked drum fills, moody solos, and a very tolerable Ozzy Osbourne. Did you know this was originally to be called War Pigs? Maybe they should have gone on with it, because that tracks does some serious metal owning, I tell ya. Apart from the overrated but enjoyable Paranoid and the it-doesn't-really-add-anything-to-the-album 2-minute Rat Salad, every track here is either classic, essential, or both.Deep Purple Made In JapanExplosions In The Sky The Earth is Not a Cold Dead PlaceHelloween Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 1Iron Maiden The Number of the BeastAs awesome as Powerslave might be, Number of the Beast is, for me, everything that Iron Maiden stands for. Killer riffs, fantastic solos, outstanding bass lines, a wicked first performance by Dickinson and Burr's underrating drumming create an album that is even now still fresh and exciting. It goes in all directions you'll want a classical metal record to go, and Maiden make everything fit seamlessly together. A truly ageless album. Oh, and did I mention it has Hallowed Be Thy Name?Judas Priest Sad Wings of DestinyBlack Sabbath created heavy metal with Paranoid, but then came Judas Priest, creating quite a different style that was equally influential, and even in a wider range of would-be genres. The double lead assault, thumping bass lines, crazy yet varied vocals and a much less gloomy approach made Sad Wings of Destiny the second landmark in heavy metal history. Epic (Victim of Changes), succeedingly theatrical (The Ripper), menacing (Genocide, Island of Domination), catchy (Tyrant) and even soft (Epitaph), Sad Wings of Destiny had it all. And it still has.Opeth Still LifeIt is too bad that most part of Sputnik seem to think that Blackwater Park is Opeth's best output. I have only one thing to say about this: you are WRONG. Still Life is a brilliant concept album, and tells the story of a medieval tragedy. Akerfeldt's songwriting is top-notch, the story is masterfully carried out through Opeth's signature shifts between light (listen to the fully acoustic 'Benighted') and heavy ('Serenity Painted Death' would be a good example). Where these shifts often seem redundant and/or meaningless on other albums, they work perfectly with the flow of the story, making it a dynamic experience. Perhaps opener track 'The Moor' is the perfect showcase of everything, and I mean EVERYTHING that this band has to offer. Highlights among the highlights are the aforementioned 'The Moor' and 'Benighted', but and also 'Face of Melinda' and closer 'White Cluster'.Pearl Jam TenPink Floyd Wish You Were HereRadiohead OK ComputerThe Clash London CallingU2 The Joshua Tree4.5 superbAlice in Chains Jar of FliesMixing acoustic and electric in an EP recorded in just a couple of days, Alice in Chains were in fact just messing around with some ideas when creating Jar of Flies. The results are outstanding to say the least, with the three first songs forming the best part of the album. Rotten Apple and especially Nutshell perfect that beautiful depression AiC had since some time had copyright on, and I Stay Away is the album's most powerful piece, featuring one of Staley's best vocal performances in his career. You can't really go wrong with Jar of Flies. It is not as consistently heavy as Dirt, but neither is it as light as the band's first EP Sap, instead making for a perfect blend between the two.Alice in Chains MTV UnpluggedArctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am....Black Sabbath Heaven and HellRonnie James Dio was truly a blessing for Black Sabbath. Not only were they now relieved of Ozzy Osbourne, who had been more of a burden than anything else in the last few years, Dio also brought with him a fresh inspiration to Sabbath's music (not to mention that he does a much better job at singing than the often irritating Ozzy used to do). The other three original members also seem to be doing better again instrumentally, as they put out something of musical quality that the band had not known since the times of Paranoid and Master of Reality. Simply put, Heaven and Hell is one of Black Sabbath's finest.Bruce Springsteen Born To RunDave Matthews Band CrashDeep Purple Deep Purple In RockDeep Purple Machine HeadDeep Purple BurnDire Straits Brothers In ArmsEdge Of Sanity CrimsonGenesis Selling England By The PoundGenesis The Lamb Lies Down On BroadwayGuns N' Roses Appetite For DestructionIced Earth Alive In AthensIron Maiden PowerslaveIron Maiden Iron MaidenIron Maiden's debut certainly showed that they were great to begin with. It is clearly the rawest of all their albums, which is a combination of Paul Di'Anno's raspy vocals and the fact that the production wasn't very good. This seems to suit the style of the album, however, as it showcases lots of this raw energy, evident on songs as 'Prowler' and 'Running Free', which, while they may not be Maiden's best, they are a hell of a lot of fun to listen to. The album did already contain hints of the melodic side Maiden later more strongly developed, for example heard in 'Remember Tomorrow' and 'Strange World'. High point is of course the epic 'Phantom of the Opera', which is truly an achievement for the band in their young days. Simply put, Iron Maiden is outstanding for a first output, and tons of fun to listen to. It may well be one of metal's finest debuts, and set a standard for the British New Wave of Heavy Metal.Iron Maiden Live After DeathIron Maiden Rock In RioJudas Priest PainkillerJudas Priest Screaming for VengeanceKing Crimson In the Court of the Crimson KingKing Crimson RedLed Zeppelin Physical GraffitiLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IIMegadeth Rust In PeaceMike Oldfield Tubular BellsMono Hymn To The Immortal WindOpeth Blackwater ParkPearl Jam Vs.Pearl Jam at both their loudest loud and softest soft. With menacing instrumentation and actual screams from Vedder next to some of the band's most subtle work, Vs. is an absolute winner. Almost a shame Ten is so fantastic, because this is definitely not a record to be overlooked.Pink Floyd The WallPink Floyd AnimalsPorcupine Tree Fear Of A Blank PlanetPorcupine Tree DeadwingRush 2112If that magnificent, brilliant and amazing title track would have been a bit longer and made up the entire album, this would have been an undeniable classic. I wish for this to be 5/5, but the objective part of me just can't do it. The other half of the album is, as already has been said, far too disjointed from the rest of the album, and that is a massive shame. The other tracks are great on their own, but can't live up the early promise of perfection in the first half of the album. The Clash The Clash (UK)U2 Achtung Baby4 excellentA Perfect Circle Mer de NomsAC/DC Let There Be RockAC/DC Highway To HellAC/DC Back in BlackAccept Balls to the WallAgalloch The MantleAgalloch Pale FolkloreAgalloch Ashes Against the GrainAlice in Chains FaceliftAlice in Chains DirtAlice in Chains Black Gives Way to BlueAlice's is back in business as Black Gives Way to Blue delivers vintage heaviness, vocal harmonisations and songwriting like the boys have never been out. Matching Staley is of course impossible for anyone to achieve, but newling DuVall seems to be the man for the job, and while he doesn't even try to imitate his predecessor, his tone and range are very similar. Standard but great rock songs (Check My Brain), simple yet effective ballads (Your Decision) and pounding heaviness (A Looking in View), Black Gives Way to Blue really has everything we could possibly wish for after Staley's unfortunate passing. Less bleak than classic Alice, but perhaps even heavier than the likes of Dirt, the album is both fresh and nostalgic, and surely delivers the goods. Amon Amarth With Oden On Our SideAmon Amarth Twilight of the Thunder GodMaybe it is because I hadn't heard any of Amon Amarth's earlier albums when I listenend to this, but this one hell of a fun ride. That the band has perfected their style is easily assumable, as all factors that make a record in this genre great are there. The melodic guitars are fantastic, the drums are pounding, and vocalist Johan Hegg roars about like a true viking more than I've heard any other viking metal vocalist do so far. On top of that, the album contains some very good guest performances: a guitar solo by Roope Latvala (CoB), guest vocals by Lars Goran Petrov (Entombed) and the marvellous cello work of Apocalyptica, which is the most unique and best of the three perfomances. Twilight of the Thunder God is worth your while, especially if you're in search of simple fun and adrenaline.Amorphis Silent WatersAmorphis Tales From the Thousand LakesAnthrax Among the LivingApocalyptica ApocalypticaBlack Sabbath Mob RulesBlack Sabbath Black SabbathBlack Sabbath Master of RealityBlack Sabbath Sabbath Bloody SabbathBlack Sabbath SabotageBloc Party Silent AlarmBlof BovenBlof Blauwe RuisBlue Oyster Cult Fire of Unknown OriginBrian Eno Ambient 1: Music For AirportsBurzum Hvis Lyset Tar OssColdplay A Rush Of Blood To The HeadColdplay Live 2003Coldplay Viva La VidaDark Tranquillity The GalleryDead Letter Circus Dead Letter CircusDeath SymbolicDeath HumanDeep Purple Perfect StrangersDeep Purple FireballDinosaur Jr. FarmA shame I have to discover this so late in 2009, as it has everything to instantly put you in a good mood. Superbly performed, overpowering guitar melodies, a smooth flow and relaxing vocals: these are what create this very, very excellent album.Dio Holy DiverDream Theater Six Degrees of Inner TurbulenceDream Theater AwakeDream Theater Images and WordsDream Theater are both loved and hated by many. The have been accused of their inabilty to write proper lyrics, which is unfortunately very much true, and letting their instrumental 'wankery' (as it is often referred to) drown what could have been good songs. Newly-introduced vocalist James LaBrie is not exactly lauded as a metal vocalist, which is very understandable, as his high wails can get immensely annoying, especially on this album. On later releases he does a much better job, especially on follow-up Awake, where he his at his prime. Despite these flaws, Images and Words is a very important record in the history of Progressive Metal, and displays virtuostic work throughout. Especially John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy are undeniably strong. Also, while he was not as technically skilled as the other band members at the time, keyboardist Kevin Moore would never be equalled by his replacements, both as a musician and composer. What it all comes down to is that Images and words is a real treat for the prog listener, but is a letdown vocally and even more so lyrically. Though it is an excellent record, it is not the classic many make it out to be, neither is it Dream Theater's best.Dream Theater Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From a MemoryDream Theater Octavariumdredg Catch Without ArmsEluvium CopiaEnsiferum EnsiferumEnsiferum Victory SongsEquilibrium SagasEquilibrium Turis FratyrExplosions In The Sky How Strange, InnocenceExplosions In The Sky Those Who Tell the Truth...Faith No More Angel DustFoo Fighters The Colour And The ShapeGamma Ray Land of the FreeGates of Winter Lux AeternaGenesis FoxtrotGenesis Nursery CrymeGod Is An Astronaut All Is Violent, All Is BrightGod Is An Astronaut Far From RefugeGodspeed You! Black Emperor Slow Riot For New Zero KanadaGuns N' Roses Use Your Illusion IIGuns N' Roses Use Your Illusion IHelloween Walls of JerichoIced Earth Burnt OfferingsIced Earth Night of the StormriderIced Earth Something Wicked This Way ComesIced Earth The Glorious BurdenIn Flames The Jester RaceIron Maiden KillersMaiden's second effort Killers is a more refined affair than their debut, mostly in terms of production, but also in style. Where Iron Maiden had rawer songs like 'Running Free' and 'Sanctuary', these now have been replaced by more polished efforts. The band still hadn't lost their rawer sound completely, however. This would take place after the leaving of Paul Di'Anno, who was very important in creating their early sound. The man is just a lot of fun to listen to, for example on 'Wrathchild', 'Murders in the Rue Morgue' and 'Killers', all true early Maiden classics. Killers is also more consistent than its predecessor, but then again carries a few weaker songs like 'Drifter'. Though this may be true, it does not even ruin the listening experience, as all songs are still great fun, and the album is highly recommended even if you're not a Maiden fan, or if you always thought Mr. Dickinson used an exeggerated vocal style.Iron Maiden Piece of MindIron Maiden Somewhere in TimeWith their 6th album, Iron Maiden changed their style slightly, leaning towards an experimental side of things, something they would eleborate further on Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Guitar and bass synths were added, giving their sound a futuristic touch, which coincides with the album's theme perfectly. The synths gave a new edge to Maiden signature sound, while not dominating the music. Opener 'Caught Somewhere in Time' applies this new feature perfectly, having guitarists Dave Murray and Adrian Smith displaying one of their best dual guitar harmonizations, something that Maiden has become known for. Overall, Somewhere in Time has a refreshing sound and contains often overlooked classics such as 'The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner', and 'Stranger in a Strange Land'. Also a highlight is the accessible 'Wasted Years'. Harris' epic 'Alexander the Great' is also strong, be it not so much lyrically as instrumentally. Somewhere in Time is often overlooked next to albums such as Number of the Beast and Powerslave, but is actually one of Maiden's finest, and deserves to be in anyone's collection. Iron Maiden Seventh Son of a Seventh SonIron Maiden Brave New WorldIron Maiden Dance of DeathIron Maiden A Matter of Life and DeathIron Maiden Rock In Rio (DVD)Iron Maiden Live After Death DVDIron Maiden Death On The RoadIron Maiden Live at DonningtonIron Maiden Best of the BeastJimi Hendrix Are You ExperiencedJimi Hendrix Axis: Bold As LoveJimi Hendrix Electric LadylandJimi Hendrix Live at WoodstockJoe Satriani Surfing With The AlienJudas Priest Stained ClassJudas Priest Unleashed In The EastKamelot KarmaKamelot EpicaKamelot The Black HaloKatatonia Viva EmptinessKings of Leon Only By The NightLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin ILed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IVIt is truly hard to say what is ultimately Led Zeppelin's best output. However, it is without doubt that the over-praised No. IV does not live up to its reputation. Is it really really great? Yes. Does it contain one of the greatest rock songs ever? Yes. Classic? No. True, Black Dog is also downright fantastic, When the Levee Breaks is great, and Rock and Roll may be generic, but is just plain fun to listen to. The major part of the album is rock greatness, but songs like Battle for Evermore and Four Sticks do inevitably drag the album down. Led Zeppelin Houses of the HolyLed Zeppelin How The West Was WonLive Throwing CopperMarillion Script For A Jester's tearMeat Loaf Bat Out Of HellMegadeth Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?Megadeth EndgameMegadeth is back with an excellent album chocked with agression, technical riffs, impressive solos and whatnot. This obviously won't be enough to rival the classics Peace Sells... and Rust in Peace, but the most remarkable feat here is putting out a true quality record that doesn't stray too far from 'Deth's roots and is still a fresh experience. Mustaine shows that some veteran metallers still have the chops.Metallica Master of PuppetsMichael Jackson ThrillerMoonsorrow V: HavitettyMother Love Bone AppleMotorhead Ace of SpadesAce of Spades is one hell of enjoyable album, but knows it downsides in the end. Its title track may be the best thing this band has ever done, all the songs are enjoyable, but what gets boring is the fact falls into the trap of using the same base formula for every song. They're mostly short, full of adrenaline and fueled by Lemmy's instantly recognizable voice. That, however is not enough to make it the classic it is thought to be. Nevertheless, this is an essential album both for Motörhead and the development of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.Motorhead InfernoMuse Origin of SymmetryMuse AbsolutionMuse H.A.A.R.PNirvana In UteroNirvana MTV Unplugged in New YorkNirvana Live At ReadingIt's loud, it's noisy, and it's good. An entry into Nirvana's discography that comes surprisingly late and yet at the right moment. Kurt Cobain would have been proud.Oasis Definitely MaybeOasis Whats the Story Morning GloryOpeth WatershedOpeth My Arms, Your HearseOpeth DeliveranceOpeth DamnationOpeth Lamentations (Live at Shepherd's Bush EmPatti Smith HorsesPearl Jam No CodePearl Jam VitalogyPearl Jam YieldPink Floyd MeddlePink Floyd Dark Side of the MoonPink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of DawnPorcupine Tree The Sky Moves SidewaysPorcupine Tree In AbsentiaPorcupine Tree Stupid DreamPorcupine Tree SignifyQueen A Night at the OperaQueens Of The Stone Age Songs For The DeafQueens Of The Stone Age Rated RR.E.M. Automatic For the PeopleRadiohead The BendsRadiohead Kid ARainbow RisingRainbow is a very much underrated band. In their early days, that is. Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio made an excellent pair musically, and put out a classic hard rock album with Rising. The only thing that prevents it from being a true classic is the length of 33 minutes, which ultimately falls short. However, it is most certainly worth a listen because of Dio's powerful vocals, which are on his best here, and Blackmore's phenomenal guitar skills. Too bad that these two men's egos couldn't be in one space, they could've made so many good stuff together.Rainbow Long Live Rock & RollRed Hot Chili Peppers BloodSugarSexMagikRed Hot Chili Peppers CalifornicationRed Hot Chili Peppers By The WayRegina Spektor FarRiverside Out of MyselfRiverside Second Life SyndromeRush HemispheresSaxon Wheels of SteelSaxon Strong Arm of the LawSlayer Reign in BloodSonata Arctica SilenceSonata Arctica Winterheart's GuildSonata Arctica Reckoning NightSoundgarden SuperunknownStone Temple Pilots Thank YouSymphony X The Divine Wings of TragedySymphony X V: The New Mythology SuiteSymphony X Paradise LostTemple of the Dog Temple of the DogThe Clash Give 'Em Enough RopeThe Gaslight Anthem The '59 SoundThe Gathering The West PoleThe Hives Black And White AlbumThe Mars Volta De-Loused in the ComatoriumThe Rasmus Dead LettersThe Smiths The Queen Is DeadThe Who Who's NextThin Lizzy JailbreakTool AenimaTool LateralusU2 WarU2 The Unforgettable FireU2 All That You Can't Leave BehindU2 How to Dismantle an Atomic BombU2 Under A Blood Red SkyWintersun WintersunYes Close To The Edge3.5 great3 Doors Down The Better Life30 Seconds to Mars 30 Seconds to Mars30 Seconds to Mars A Beautiful LieAC/DC High VoltageAC/DC PowerageAC/DC The Razor's EdgeAccept Restless and WildAlice Cooper Along Came a SpiderAlice in Chains Sap EPAmon Amarth Fate of NornsAmorphis EclipseAmorphis ElegyAnacrusis Screams and WhispersApocalyptica Inquisition SymphonyArctic Monkeys Favourite Worst NightmareAt the Gates Slaughter of the SoulAudioslave AudioslaveBe'lakor Stone's ReachVery solid progressive melodic death metal that has been influenced by many artists from the Scandinavian scene, especially Opeth. Stone's Reach gets on the repetitive side after the first two highlights Venator and From Scythe to Sceptre, but provides a necessary break with the short and acoustic Huks (there's your proof for the Opeth-influences), and closes off on a high note, with the truly worth epic Countless Skies.Black Sabbath DehumanizerBlackfield Blackfield IIBreaking Benjamin We Are Not AloneBreaking Benjamin PhobiaChildren Of Bodom Follow the ReaperColdplay ParachutesColdplay X&YDeep Purple Deep PurpleDeep Purple PurpendicularDeep Purple BananasDeep Purple Rapture of the DeepDirty Pretty Things Waterloo to AnywhereDragonForce Sonic FirestormDream Theater A Change of SeasonsDream Theater Train of ThoughtDream Theater Black Clouds and Silver Liningsdredg El CieloEditors The Back RoomEditors An End Has A StartEnsiferum IronEnsiferum From AfarOnce again, everyone's favourite folk/viking metal act Ensiferum release a solid slab of heroic tunes that will surely please fans of their other work. While indeed slightly more bombastic than we are used to, From Afar adds nothing really new to the table, but then again, who cares? Explosions In The Sky The RescueExplosions In The Sky All of a Sudden, I Miss EveryoneFaith No More The Real ThingFlotsam and Jetsam Doomsday for the DeceiverFoo Fighters One By OneFoo Fighters In Your HonorFranz Ferdinand Franz FerdinandGenesis TrespassGod Is An Astronaut The End of the BeginningGod Is An Astronaut A Moment of Stillness EPGreen Day American IdiotGuns N' Roses GNR LiesHelloween Gambling With The DevilHelloween The Dark RideHelloween HelloweenIced Earth Iced EarthIced Earth Horror ShowIced Earth The Dark SagaInterpol Turn on the Bright LightsInterpol AnticsInterpol Our Love To AdmireIron Maiden Edward The Great, Greatest HitsIron Maiden Somewhere Back In Time: The Best Of 1980 - 1989Iron Maiden Maiden JapanJoy Division Unknown PleasuresJoy Division CloserJudas Priest Hell Bent for LeatherJudas Priest British SteelJudas Priest Sin After SinJudas Priest Angel of RetributionKaiser Chiefs EmploymentKatatonia Night Is The New DayDespite claims of progression, Katotonia haven't changed their sound all that much since Viva Emptiness. Still, that doesn't mean Night is the New Day is a dissapointment. In fact, it is great.Keane Hopes & FearsKings of Leon Because Of The TimesKreator Pleasure to KillLed Zeppelin PresenceLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IIILed Zeppelin In Through the Out DoorLive Secret SamadhiLive The Distance To HereLive Awake: Best OfMegadeth Countdown to ExtinctionMetallica MetallicaMetallica Death MagneticModest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even SankMother Love Bone ShineMotorhead BomberMuse ShowbizMuse Black Holes and RevelationsNirvana BleachNirvana IncesticideOasis Dig Out Your SoulOasis Don't Believe The TruthOpeth MorningriseOpeth Ghost ReveriesPearl Jam Riot ActPearl Jam BinauralPearl Jam BackspacerEleven great tracks. Nothing more, nothing less. Pearl Jam is back with its greatest release since Yield.Pink Floyd A Saucerful Of SecretsPink Floyd The Division BellPorcupine Tree Up The DownstairPorcupine Tree Lightbulb SunPorcupine Tree Nil RecurringQueens Of The Stone Age Queens Of The Stone AgeRadiohead Pablo HoneyRadiohead AmnesiacRadiohead Hail To The ThiefRadiohead In RainbowsRadiohead My Iron Lung EPMy Iron Lung shows transition between Pablo Honey and The Bends, created in the days of Radiohead's more rockish era. Aside from the title track, which would later appear on The Bends, this has some seriously fantastic b-sides on it, most notably The Trickster. The acoustic Creep is one of the album's most interesting, although not entirely succesful moments, having Yorke providing more personal vocals at the cost of powerful instrumentation. Never got into anything post-OK Computer? Check this out.Riverside Rapid Eye MovementRose Tattoo Rose TattooIt's Australian blues/hard rock from the late 70's, and it sounds very much like AC/DC. Gotta love it or hate it.Rush RushSamson Shock TacticsSaxon SaxonSaxon Into the LabyrinthSnow Patrol Final StrawSnow Patrol Eyes OpenSonata Arctica EclipticaSonata Arctica UniaSoundgarden BadmotorfingerSymphony X Twilight in OlympusSymphony X The OdysseySymphony X The Damnation GameTestament The LegacyThe Bravery The Sun and the MoonThe Fratellis Costello MusicThe Gaslight Anthem Sink or SwimThe Hives Veni Vidi ViciousThe Hives Your New Favourite BandThe Hives Tyrannosaurus HivesThe Killers Hot FussThe Killers Sam's TownThe Last Shadow Puppets The Age Of The UnderstatementThe Rasmus IntoThe Verve A Storm in HeavenTool UndertowTool OpiateTool 10,000 DaysU2 BoyU2 Rattle And HumX Japan Art Of LifeZZ Top Eliminator3 good3 Doors Down Away From The SunA Perfect Circle Thirteenth StepAC/DC Dirty Deeds Done Dirt CheapAC/DC Who Made WhoAC/DC BallBreakerAC/DC Stiff Upper LipAC/DC '74 JailbreakAlice in Chains Alice in ChainsAlice in Chains We Die Young EPAmorphis The Karelian IsthmusAmorphis Far From The SunApocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four CellosArctic Monkeys HumbugBlack Sabbath Technical EcstasyBlack Sabbath Born AgainBlack Sabbath The Eternal IdolBlackfield BlackfieldBreaking Benjamin SaturateBreaking Benjamin So Cold EPButcher Jones No Gods West EpDeep Purple StormbringerDeep Purple The Book of TaliesynDisturbed IndestructibleDragonForce Valley of the DamnedDream Theater When Dream And Day UniteDream Theater Greatest Hit (... and 21 Other...)Ensiferum Dragonheads (EP)Fiction Plane Left Side of the BrainFoo Fighters Foo FightersFoo Fighters There Is Nothing Left To LoseFoo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience & GraceGod Is An Astronaut God Is An AstronautIron Maiden The X FactorIron Maiden Virtual XIIron Maiden The Soundhouse TapesIron Maiden No More Lies EPJudas Priest Defenders of the FaithJudas Priest Rocka RollaJudas Priest A Touch Of Evil LiveKamelot Ghost OperaKeane Under The Iron SeaKing Crimson In the Wake of PoseidonKing Crimson LizardKing Crimson Lark's Tongue in AspicLed Zeppelin CodaLive VLive Birds Of PrayMaximo Park A Certain TriggerMetallica Ride the LightningNirvana NevermindOasis Standing On The Shoulder Of GiantsOpeth OrchidPink Floyd Atom Heart MotherPink Floyd The Final CutPorcupine Tree The IncidentThe Incident is a reworking of Fear of a Blank Planet's style in an ambitious 2 discs, but lacks the impressiveness and coherence of its predecessor. It is like typical modern Porcupine Tree, but without something that binds it all together properly. Just passable.Queen Made In HeavenQueens Of The Stone Age Lullabies to ParalyzeRainbow Ritchie Blackmore's RainbowUnfortunately Rainbow's first record suffers from an untalented input. Sure, Ritchie Blackmore is a fantastic guitar player, and also Dio is well known for his voice. The members that were with Rainbow on this first release though, the members from Elf (Dio's previous band), do nothing really interesting musically. The record is also very bluesy compared to later Rainbow (also caused by the presence of the Elf members). Still, after all, Rainbow's first 3 albums are Ritchie's and Dio's show, and those two also make this one a decent output. With the addition of Toney Carey, Cozey Powell and Jimmy Bain, they greatly topped it with Rising. Highlights here are Man on the Silver Mountain and Catch the Rainbow.Red Hot Chili Peppers One Hot MinuteRed Hot Chili Peppers Stadium ArcadiumRush Fly By NightSamson Head OnScott Lavender The Piano Tribute to Iron MaidenSoundgarden Louder Than LoveSoundgarden Down on the UpsideSymphony X Symphony XTalking Heads Remain In LightThe Bravery The BraveryThe Fratellis Here We StandThe Hives Barely LegalThe Killers SawdustThe Killers Day & AgeThe Rasmus Hide from the SunThem Crooked Vultures Them Crooked VulturesAll three gentlemen on this here record have been capable of better things in their respective pasts, but that doesn't mean Them Crooked Vultures are not a decent band that created a decent record. A shame it is then, that this record never gets further off the ground than just being a nice listen. Homme is definitely taking the lead here, unsurprisingly, and if he perhaps had given space to the more Grohl- or Jones-ish waves of musical creativity, the sound of Them Crooked Vultures could have truly been the sum of its parts.U2 ZooropaU2 No Line On The HorizonU2 The Best Of 1980-1990U2 The Best Of 1990-20002.5 averageAC/DC Flick Of The SwitchAFI The Art of DrowningAFI Sing the SorrowAFI The AFI RetrospectiveAmorphis TuonelaBlack Sabbath Never Say Die!Bloc Party A Weekend in the CityDeep Purple Shades of Deep PurpleDeep Purple AbandonDragonForce Inhuman RampageDream Theater Falling Into Infinitydredg Orph E.PFranz Ferdinand You Could Have It So Much BetterGuns N' Roses Chinese DemocracyHeaven and Hell The Devil You KnowHelloween Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2Iron Maiden Fear of the DarkJudas Priest Ram It DownJudas Priest NostradamusJudas Priest Live in LondonKaiser Chiefs Yours Truly, Angry MobLive Mental JewelryLive Songs From Black MountainMeat Loaf Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into HellMetallica Kill Em AllMetallica LoadMotorhead OverkillMuse The ResistanceIt had to happen, right? Muse finally release a below-standard album, that can be best described as a collection of tracks that mix their earlier Orgin/Absolution sound with the newfound poppier direction on Black Holes, with weaker results than before. Add to that that Bellamy rips off both Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody (United States of Eurasia) and his own New Born (Unnatural Selection), and you've already got a letdown album. The closing epic Exogenesis Symphony is promising, and indeed very pretty, but altogether not consistenly impressive. Muse's eventual downfall was inevitable.Nickelback The StateNickelback Silver Side UpNickelback All the Right ReasonsOasis Heathen ChemistryPatti Smith Radio EthiopiaPearl Jam Pearl JamQueens Of The Stone Age Era VulgarisRadiohead The Best ofI'm just saying it. This is completely unnessecary. There are just these bands that are not supposed to release compilation albums. Radiohead releases albums that each have a very distinct sound and feel. These should simply be experienced as a whole. That said, the flow of this album is unpleasant to say the least, moving from rockers on The Bends to the far more experimental outings on Kid A, for example. Of course, EMI released this just to make money, but they could have made a proper effort to put the songs in a more fitting order. The music is still good though, we're talking about one of Britain's finest and most talented bands here, but even people wanting to get into Radiohead would better consider buying The Bends or OK Computer.Snow Patrol Songs for PolarbearsSnow Patrol When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear UpSoundgarden Ultramega OKThe Gaslight Anthem Señor and the QueenThe Rascals RascalizeU2 OctoberU2 POPU2 U218 Singles + DVDWolfmother Wolfmother2 poor3 Doors Down Seventeen DaysAC/DC For Those About To Rock...AC/DC Fly On The WallAC/DC Black IceAFI DecemberundergroundAirbourne Runnin' WildAngel Witch Angel WitchBlind Guardian Nightfall in Middle-EarthBloc Party IntimacyDeep Purple Who Do We Think We Are!Deep Purple The House of Blue LightDeep Purple Made in EuropeDragonForce Ultra BeatdownThese guys have one major problem, and just one. They are not very much original. In any way. At all. And yeah, I'm still making an understatement. Sure, DragonForce may have the two fastest guitarists in the world, that doesn't make them GOOD. Well, it did, in fact, with their first album, which was alright, and their second, which was great. Their sound could be called refreshing even, they were a 'one of a kind' band, really. The potential was there, but where DragonForce doesn't sound like anyone else, this 4th record make them sound too much like themselves. Again. And that, frankly enough, is unforgivable. If they pull of this trick again with their next, I will be forced to give them even lower than this.Dream Theater Systematic ChaosIced Earth Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Pt. 1)Iron Maiden No Prayer For The DyingEven the best bands make bad albums, and Iron Maiden proves it with No Prayer for the Dying. The album is too bland and unispired overall, but what makes it even worse is that its the single Maiden album that contains none of their classics. Some of these problematic tracks are opener Tailgunner, The Assasin, Hooks in You and Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter, the latter having charted surprisingly well for such a bad song. These tracks have all got the same problem. They are frustratingly repetitive and have boring choruses, and there seems to be no creative input in any of them. There are some excellent efforts on No Prayer for the Dying though, such as its title track. Iron Maiden Live!! +oneIron Maiden Ed HunterJudas Priest Point of EntryJudas Priest JugulatorJudas Priest Priest...Live!Linkin Park Hybrid TheoryMetallica ReloadMetallica ...And Justice for AllNickelback The Long RoadOasis Be Here NowOpeth BurdenPink Floyd UmmagummaPorcupine Tree On the Sunday of Life.....Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the MachineSnow Patrol A Hundred Million SunsWhite Lies To Lose My Life1.5 very poor3 Doors Down 3 Doors DownA Perfect Circle eMOTIVeAC/DC Blow Up Your VideoAmorphis Privilege of EvilAmorphis Am UniversumAmorphis SkyforgerBlack Sabbath Vol.4Deep Purple Come Taste the BandDeep Purple The Battle Rages On...Editors In This Light and On This EveningIt has been a long time since I heard such a boring album. Where their first two albums were both great, Editors choose a very unwise new approach. Change was necessary, but not like this. They ditched the sweeping guitars, added lots of monotone, boring synths and paired those with equally monotone vocals. If I'm being nice, Papillon is still decent, but I had a hard time looking for strong material here. There is a single word I can summarize this album in: yawn.Iced Earth The Crucible of ManJudas Priest DemolitionJudas Priest '98 Live MeltdownKaiser Chiefs Off With Their HeadsLinkin Park MeteoraMetallica St. AngerNickelback CurbPink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason1 awfulBlack Sabbath Seventh StarDeep Purple Slaves and MastersGenesis From Genesis to RevelationGuns N' Roses The Spaghetti Incident?I'm perfectly fine with the fact that people find this to be an underrated album, but I cannot get around the fact that The Spaghetti Incident? adds nothing to the legacy Guns N' Roses had built up with Appetite and the Use Your Illusion albums. The band is quite talented, and wasting the true line-up's last album on some covers which are well carried-out but nevertheless just not very interesting was not a very good move. This is where Guns N' Roses unfortunately died. If only they had done it in a more satisfying fashion.Judas Priest TurboKeane Perfect SymmetryLinkin Park Minutes to MidnightLinkin Park Live In TexasNickelback Dark Horse
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