20 Selections Showing Second's The Best
"First is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the hairy chest..." - Children's Rhyme.rLooking through my music the other day, I found at least part of this rhyme to be true. For some reason, many metal bands trump their debuts on their sophomore effort, and never again are able to match it. Just a weird trend, probably with plenty of explanation, but here's some proof... |
| 1 |  | Amorphis
Tales From the Thousand Lakes
Although personally I find The Karelian Isthmus to be the better album, this is the widely appraised and loved release from this Finnish death band. |
| 2 |  | Atheist
Unquestionable Presence
This is unquestionably (feeling punny?) the best album from this death metal forerunner from Florida. |
| 3 |  | Arghoslent
Incorrigible Bigotry
The album so nice they made it twice. Really. Hornets of the Pogrom is formatted to be identical to this. Now if only they would drop all the racist bullsh*t... |
| 4 |  | Beherit
Drawing Down the Moon
This is the Finnish band's best black metal release. Its tough to compare with Electric Doom Synthesis, the two being so different in style. (I like EDS better) |
| 5 |  | Benediction
The Grand Leveller
Don't like the album title, but love the music. This British band tears on this, and really just tapers off afterwards. |
| 6 |  | Cancer
Death Shall Rise
Although its debatable which of this British band's albums are best, Death Shall Rise was definitely their most popular and best recieved. |
| 7 |  | Cryptopsy
None So Vile
One of my favorite albums of all time, this Canadian technical death band mastered the art with this one. It's just too bad that they completely fell apart after this. |
| 8 |  | Deicide
Legion
This American death metal leader released this over the top, relentlessly paced masterpiece in 1992, right in the peak of the genre. |
| 9 | | Dissection
Storm of the Light's Bane
The best and last black metal release from the Swedish band. Reinkaos, disappointing in the change of styles, still holds up as a pretty good melodic death album. |
| 10 |  | Gorgoroth
Antichrist
Another of my favorites, the Norwegian black group's second effort still holds as one of the best and most influential in the genre. |
| 11 |  | Gorguts
The Erosion of Sanity
Another excellent Canadian tech-death band, Gorguts second release combines brutally fast-paced death metal with awesome technicality, perfectly listenable. Obscura, their heavily technical third release, leaves some listeners in actual pain. |
| 12 |  | Immortal
Pure Holocaust
The Norwegian black masters of the terrible album cover. One of the few early albums that doesn't feature completely laughable art, and easily one of the best black metal releases in one of the best year's for the genre. |
| 13 |  | Impaled Nazarene
Ugra-Karma
This punishing Finnish black/grind group pulled all the hinges on this goat-filled piece. Guaranteed to leave your ears bleeding and your eyes with afterimages of bearded heads... |
| 14 |  | Malevolent Creation
Retribution
The album art is kind of cool, but what the hell does it have to do with the idea of retribution? Whatever...still a great piece from a great American death group. |
| 15 |  | Morbid Angel
Blessed Are the Sick
I'm probably gunna take shit for this one. It's really hard to decide between this and Altars of Madness for this death metal legend, but I'm going to have to go with my first love. Blessed Are the Sick got me into death metal, and I can't ever find something to top it. |
| 16 |  | Napalm Death
From Enslavement to Obliteration
While Scum was infinitely more important and influential, this British grindcore band's sophomore effort is better orchestrated, contains more variation in sound, and is, in my opinion, an overall better listen. |
| 17 |  | Obituary
Cause of Death
Another Florida death metal leader, and another classic death metal album. Also, another death metal band that should have stopped playing a long time ago. |
| 18 |  | Quo Vadis
Day Into Night
This Canadian technical melodic death band is not well-enough known for my liking. Although they are probably done making good music (most of the members have moved on), their first three legitimate albums are some of the best metal out their. |
| 19 |  | Therion
Beyond Sanctorum
Just after going full death, and just before going full symphonic, this Swedish beast (get it?) released one of my favorite albums of all time. Every time I listen to it, I like it more. And I have owned it for two and a half years. |
| 20 |  | Vader
De Profundis
I have to admit that I'm pretty new to this Polish death band, but it only took one listen to fall in love with De Profundis. A wicked album. |
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