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Metal - Both fast and slow, new and old Part I
Welcome to Sky ValleyWelcome to Sky Valley by Kyuss
Buy new: £7.98 / Used from: £4.42
Soulful and pounding at the same time. Sabbath through a '90s prism.
Master Of PuppetsMaster Of Puppets by Metallica
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £6.18
As good today as it was when I was 15, even better at Download when they played it in full, one of the best experiences ever. Fast, progressive thrash gets no better.
Reign in BloodReign in Blood by Slayer
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.69
This shows a deathlier side to the thrash genre. Again still as stunning as it ever was, a pure 29 minute thrash to the end. Araya's unique shouting style is a plus, something different from usual.
DirtDirt by Alice in Chains
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.40
Maybe controversial, but AIC were lumped in with grunge unfairly, this is heavy music with the best harmonies around, amazing vocals and great guitar playing throughout. A bleak, dark masterpiece.
DopesmokerDopesmoker by Sleep
Buy used from: £20.95
An unusual album, not to everyone's taste, but this is stoner metal taken to it's conclusion. One track, one riff really but rarely dull, a hymn worshipping the leaf,
Train of ThoughtTrain of Thought by Dream Theater
Buy new: £4.78 / Used from: £4.10
The masters, 4 of the best musicians in any genre in one band with James LaBrie singing! Heavy, progressive, every track a classic, their best work.
Black Clouds & Silver LiningsBlack Clouds & Silver Linings by Dream Theater
Buy new: £12.98 / Used from: £12.64
Another stunning piece of work, contains 'Shattered Fortress' which takes some of the best bits of their best songs and makes a whole new song which is fantastic. One of their best for years.
Six Degrees of Inner TurbulenceSix Degrees of Inner Turbulence by Dream Theater
Buy new: £11.28 / Used from: £3.70
SDOIT, Glass Prison, Misunderstood just great stuff, the title track is an epic classic track that could be an album on it's own. And yet they still did another whole album, excellent.
HeartworkHeartwork by Carcass
Buy new: £11.98
A real crossover album, brutal and fast in places but with a sense of songwriting that they didn't show on earlier albums. This is the album that my punk/indie mates liked even though it's death metal
Blessed Are The SickBlessed Are The Sick by Morbid Angel
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £7.49
The first 3 albums are all immense but this one gets my pick. Still fast even those this is regarded as slowing down after AOM. Trey is the Van Halen of Death Metal, just stunning every track.
DemanufactureDemanufacture by Fear Factory
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £3.97
Terminator metal, or so one description says. The first 4 tracks are simply FF's best songs and their best work. Machine like guitars and drums, keyboards and growling vocals combined to fine effect.
Master Of RealityMaster Of Reality by Black Sabbath
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.79
What more needs to be said? Iommi's best collection of riffs, fantastic from the hacking cough at the start to Into The Void's multiple quaking riffs.
Burn My EyesBurn My Eyes by Machine Head
Buy new: £9.58 / Used from: £4.57
Old school thrash given a 90s reinvention and mixed with hardcore. They shot their load when they put Davidian up front, they would never write better than that stone cold classic.
The Number of the BeastThe Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden
Buy new: £5.38 / Used from: £3.39
Classic metal, Maiden have never really changed their formula, and why should they?
MidianMidian by Cradle of Filth
Buy new: £4.98
For me their best album and some of the best black metal outside Scandinavia.
Blackwater ParkBlackwater Park by Opeth
Buy new: £5.98
A lesson in how to play black/death metal and yet still progress. Opeth can be tender and brutal within seconds without effort.
Vulgar Display of PowerVulgar Display of Power by Pantera
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £1.84
Phil Anselmo brings the brutality Dimebag brings the finesse. One of the most apt titles ever, great fast aggressive music.
MezmerizeMezmerize by System Of A Down
Buy new: £7.98 / Used from: £4.43
SOAD get further away from their nu-metal roots and it's no bad thing. Toxicity is a fine album too, but this gets the nod for improved songwriting. Modern metal but very little nu about it.
AriseArise by Sepultura
Buy new: £7.48 / Used from: £5.99
Chaos AD & Roots are more well known these days but this album along with Nos. 2 & 3 started my love affair with thrash.
AenimaAenima by Tool
Buy new: £13.87 / Used from: £7.97
Is prog nu metal the right description? All I know is that Maynard is one of the greatest vocalists around and they write some damn fine prog tinged modern tunes.
BabylonBabylon by Skindred
Buy used from: £14.75
Drum'n'bass'n'metal'n'punk'n'ragga? Yes please, not many sound like Skindred and that's rare.
... And Justice For All... And Justice For All by Metallica
Buy new: £7.98 / Used from: £4.46
If Rob Trujillo re-recorded the bass or it was re-mixed then this would be almost perfect, Metallica take the proggy route while still thrashing away. Blackened, One, Harvester of Sorrow, top notch.
Ride The LightningRide The Lightning by Metallica
Buy new: £9.48 / Used from: £7.98
Pure thrash, made up of classics, great playing the stuff that classics are made of.
Around the FurAround the Fur by Deftones
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £3.99
One of the best of the 90's metal bands, at times heavy and tuneful, Chino's vocals add another dimension.
Rage Against the MachineRage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine
Buy new: £4.78 / Used from: £1.95
If there must be rap in metal then this is one of the only bands allowed. Nothing worse than ego heavy rapper and Zack is the antithesis of this. Feel the fury from cover to lyrics to guitar, awesome.