Ultimate Paradise
28 March, 2024, 04:15:40 pm
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News:
 
  Home Help Arcade Gallery Links Staff List Login Register  

Maniac's top 25 metal albums! (With links and maybe writeups)

Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Maniac's top 25 metal albums! (With links and maybe writeups)  (Read 3045 times)
0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.
Maniac234678
Guest
« Reply #45 on: 05 April, 2011, 10:20:00 pm »

8. 11 Dreams - Mercenary

World Hate Center:
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Tm0DfCZjxe0
11 Dreams: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PnjeWhQaJL0
Loneliness: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ACY4I2MBz4c

How the **** do you go from **** 11 Dreams to Metalcorphosis? Oh yeah, they went from Architect of Lies to Metalcorphosis. But still, Architect of Lies was pretty cool; hell, it was a runner-up for this list along with The Hours that Remain. How do you go from a great album to lolmetalcorphosis. It's like Cryptopsy suddenly becoming a deathcore band; how does a decision like this come to fruition?

It's pretty obvious that Mercenary spent the greater part of their career getting less and less intense. Starting out as a pretty heavy melodeath band, they slowly started leaning towards melody, and 11 Dreams stands at the point of equilibrium. It's more balanced than Everblack or First Breath, and it's more interesting than Architect of Lies and The Hours that Remain. I think that 11 Dreams is the only album to really justify its track lengths; there is no reason for First Breath or The Hours that Remain to be longer than an hour, but 11 Dreams manages to pull it off just by being... well, balanced. It drops most of the thrashy elements that plagued Everblack (except for World Hate Center, which oddly enough manages to be the best track on the album in spite of the fact that it takes a lot from the lesser two of Mercenary's first five albums), amplifies the melody and goes down a progressive power metal structure while maintaining a melodeath sound. Oddly enough, it works perfectly; it ropes the listener in with a killer of an opening track and keeps their attention with a great combination of melodeath and prog power metal song structures.

Oh god, that is the worst write-up that will ever be on this topic, oh god.

Oh, speaking of power metal, guess what subgenre the next four albums are going to be? The presence of all but one of these have been alluded to, so take a guess for the next album.
Report Spam   Logged
Spring-Loaded
Spring; the season your dreams take place in
Local Mod
Epic Post Whore
***********
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Mood: Practical
Posts: 26,112


« Reply #46 on: 05 April, 2011, 10:23:12 pm »

What's "mallcore"?
Report Spam   Logged

TBizzle
THE GALACTIC PIMP
BIZZLE
Semi-epic Post Whore
**********
Offline Offline

Gender: Female
Mood: Happy
Posts: 11,430



« Reply #47 on: 05 April, 2011, 10:29:52 pm »

Report Spam   Logged

Maniac234678
Guest
« Reply #48 on: 05 April, 2011, 10:45:34 pm »



That was the first time I had ever heard of heavy metal. When my parents heard of that, they went "oh boy..."

12 years later...
Report Spam   Logged
Maniac234678
Guest
« Reply #49 on: 10 April, 2011, 01:59:21 am »

7. Legend of the Bone Carver - Pyramaze

The Birth: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wX5hPxMwnPs
The Bone Carver: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qw7ZnzCxUDY
Tears of Hate: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=3Ye2iCYPQL0

Pyramaze has the distinction of being the only band that has its entire catalog on this list (ignoring the single band on this list that has only released one album). The band that came the closest to accomplishing this as well was Shade Empire, with Zero Nexus just barely failing to make the cut (and getting axed when I realized that it shouldn't be here). Admittedly, I have a few bands yet to come that probably would have contested this if I had actually listened to their other albums, but even then, it wouldn't be as impressive of a feat as Pyramaze has achieved. There's a reason why I hold this band in such high esteem, after all.

As a concept album, this runs on a different set-up than Melancholy Beast, even if the general sound and structure are similar. Bone Carver does not possess the fairly consistent mood of Melancholy Beast; the ongoing story of the album demands alterations to the mood as the plot advances, so we encounter such themes as hope and triumph alongside the downtrodden themes of Melancholy Beast. Every last bit works; Lance King weaves a great story, while the band jumps from one mood to another seamlessly as the story progresses. In the end, the album ceases to be merely a display of fine musicianship; Bone Carver makes a push into further territory by becoming a great story. This is, without any doubt, Pyramaze's finest hour, and it really speaks volumes of an album's quality when it manages to be the highest point for a band that has consistently released amazing works throughout its existence.

Three more power metal albums remain. This next one is probably the thrashiest power metal album on this list.
Report Spam   Logged
Maniac234678
Guest
« Reply #50 on: 10 April, 2011, 02:32:14 am »

I'm going to do another right now, while I'm listening to it.

6. Evolution Purgatory - Persuader

Strike Down:
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zBYmRtYYhNI
Sanity Soiled: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=_6PdMWY8-r8
Godfather: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Qgiet5vGiXM

For a while, I used to prefer When Eden Burns over this, likely because it's the first album that I heard from this band. It's a fairly recent development that I've really gotten into this album, but now that I'm here, I'm in deep. This album is absolutely badass; it doesn't become epic by using flourishes like When Eden Burns did; it's epic just because it's just so **** awesome. As far as power metal that I like goes, Evolution Purgatory is very straightforward, but so much talent is put into its creation that this detail ceases to matter. Actually, it's not that it ceases to matter; it's what makes this effort so effective. This album doesn't attempt to find a gimmick or singular trait to attach itself to, it just starts naturally and culminates in something amazing. Every last thing in this album works; there is no fragment of any track that doesn't dig itself deep into every single fiber of your being. Even when it's not pounding your face in, it still has the capacity to grab you and not let go. Evolution Purgatory is simply an extremely powerful effort from a band that desperately needs to resurface and release another amazing album.

Two more power metal albums left. If there's any album that manages to be lengthy, yet doesn't overstay its welcome, this is it.
Report Spam   Logged
ganonfloyd
The Saga Continues
Godly Post Whore
************
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
I'm: Floyd
Stand: King Crimson
Mood: Drained
Posts: 44,843


Space is Deep


« Reply #51 on: 10 April, 2011, 10:22:12 am »

um

Legend of the Bone Carver is an amazing album title.
Report Spam   Logged


Floyd is the devil.
I SERIOUSLY DREAMT OF FLOYD BEING A KILLER CYBORG WHO RAN 10 TIMES FASTER THAN ANY NORMAL HUMAN, AND THEN KILLED MM, TURNED FEMALE, WENT AFTER ME, AND I DROPPED FROM THE SKYSCRAPER! IT HURTED, BUT I AWAKE CALMLY, THINKING I WOULDN'T SEE YOU AGAIN.
*no gold, just us*
Maniac234678
Guest
« Reply #52 on: 10 April, 2011, 01:32:57 pm »

Opening my top 5 with...

5. A Flame to the Ground Beneath - Lost Horizon

Highlander (The One):
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OffF0e2h4TU
Pure: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=SYdbLfLnIHk
Lost in the Depths of Me: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=v7joi4dKmkM

Oh boy, here we are. I have not had the pleasure of listening to Lost Horizon's debut, but it would likely have been on this list as well if I had. So, this is the most epic album on this entire list. Daniel Heiman is probably one of the most well-regarded vocalists in all of modern metal, and this is justified. Heiman can hit pretty much every note and pull every single fluctuation of his voice off perfectly. Of course, if you have ever heard of Lost Horizon, you've encountered many people who are perfectly willing to go on about him at length, so discussing him is beating a dead horse. This album has six tracks minus interludes, and pretty much all of them are very long. Highlander is and shall be the longest track I will post in this topic. There's no filler in any of these songs; no part of any song isn't integral to the final product, and further on that subject, no part of any song is expendable. There are no problems, no lost interest, nothing at all but probably the greatest time you'll have with power metal. Highlander stands at 12 minutes, and this is too short. I can't say that this is my favorite power metal album, but I can objectively say that this is the best power metal album on this list by a wide margin. This album is filled with nothing but epics; it's fairly progressive and it's not very heavy, but this album still manages to make Evolution Purgatory up there look like a nursery rhyme.

Next album is my highest-ranking power metal album, from a band that goes in and out of metal in general. Oh yeah, and it's pretty much the funnest album on this entire list; I've listened to it more than any other album ever.
Report Spam   Logged
Maniac234678
Guest
« Reply #53 on: 10 April, 2011, 04:42:12 pm »

4. Redeemer - Machinae Supremacy

Through the Looking Glass:
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=IXzHSxYvg-I
Oki Kuma's Adventure: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=akn75K6naws
Elite: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=939jpDE6qRU

Here we are, my favorite power metal album and the least metal album on the list. Redeemer is Machinae Supremacy's heaviest effort, in that it doesn't occasionally slip in and out of the territory of metal. Actually, Machinae Supremacy is pretty damn hard to categorize in general, but power metal is the closest subgenre that they reach, not to mention that Redeemer definitely is power metal. Anyway, this is the most played album on my Last.fm, but it's not displayed as such due to the fact that Redeemer has two releases, with a standard and Underground edition; I've used both at different points. It's not the most extreme album around, nor is it the most impressive, but out of every album I've ever listened to, this is the funnest one. It's the first modern power metal band that I've listened to, so I do place some sentimental value on it, but it doesn't really change just how much fun it is to listen to this album. The entire thing is completely entertaining from start to finish and extremely easy to replay without a diminished effect. This is another album that doesn't really deserve its place on an objective level; all of the previous three albums are definitely better than this. However, I absolutely love this album and I prefer listening to it over pretty much any other album in existence; on a list of my favorite albums, this definitely deserves this place.

The next album is very strange. It comes from the only band on this list that has only ever released one album, and it's the only member of its genre on this list. This is also the highest-ranked album on the list that isn't melodeath, so...
Report Spam   Logged
Maniac234678
Guest
« Reply #54 on: 10 April, 2011, 11:59:38 pm »

3. Tesla - Herrschaft

Human Soul: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=G2SZv7GclX0
Under Perfect Control: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=KERiOyHcnFA
I Am The One: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=grx-6pL5sqI

Let's face it; electronic metal sucks. Rather, it's not so much the concept that sucks, it's the execution; I mean, I like electronic and I like metal, and I should like both combined, but nobody actually knows how this is done. Very few electronic metal bands have any clue of what they are doing.  It's not uncommon to run into a band that doesn't do anything outside of play metalcore or nu metal with some basic synths thrown in that calls itself electronic metal. There is quite a base for black metal, both raw and symphonic, that add electronic influences, but they hit the same wall. From another camp, we have bands have heavy electronic influences, but don't know how to fuse these elements with metal. It's not common that a band does it right, though this is probably because, if Herrschaft is any indication, this world cannot contain so much awesome.

Quote from: Me
Herrschaft's Tesla is still the best album in the history of ever.

Well, not quite, but close. Herrschaft is heavily bent towards the electronic side of the subgenre; it's not mere playtime with synths, it's full-on electronic with metal influences. Yeah, this is definitely more electronic than metal; songs don't run under metal structures, they run under electronic structures and the metal supplements them. However, at its peak, this album is still powerful enough to keep up with Persuader. This band knows how metal and electronic works, and they know how to fuse them. In spite of the fact that this isn't pure metal, it feels like it; this album is very effective. Due to its lack of metal structures, it's not consistent at all; it goes from extremely powerful tracks like Human Soul and Apocalypse Child to slower, almost progressive tracks like Under Perfect Control and I Am the One. Everything is pulled off splendidly, though; nothing feels gimmicky or half-hearted, everything comes off as an excellent mixture that definitely deserves to be dubbed as a representative of what electronic metal should be.

The final two albums are melodeath. With that said, there is no good reason for anyone who knows what kind of music I like to fail at guessing this next album. Hey, TBizzle, you're likely to read this before I post again. Tell me, what album is up next? You should know.
Report Spam   Logged
TBizzle
THE GALACTIC PIMP
BIZZLE
Semi-epic Post Whore
**********
Offline Offline

Gender: Female
Mood: Happy
Posts: 11,430



« Reply #55 on: 11 April, 2011, 12:19:14 am »

IDK LOL
Report Spam   Logged

Maniac234678
Guest
« Reply #56 on: 11 April, 2011, 01:56:41 pm »

2. Forget Me Not - Dark Lunacy

Through the Non-Time: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=he9E_Mweyzo
Serenity: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=3E4icx7U8Cg
Fragile Caress: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PbcPdi_JPQg

So yeah, Dark Lunacy is the greatest band ever. Well, ignoring Weaver of Forgotten.

This is Dark Lunacy's best album, and their tightest effort. This album is **** amazing; it's beautiful, powerful and captivating, it's everything that I'd want to see from Dark Lunacy. The song structure is very similar to the Diarist, but leaves significantly more of an impact. The album's quality is significantly tighter than Devoid, and with melodies rivaling some of Devoid's best. Serenity was the track that introduced me to this band (and on a negative note, it introduced me to Elfen Lied. Search for this song on YouTube and you'll see why), and it stands with Through the Non-Time as Dark Lunacy's best songs ever. ****, you know what? I cannot begin to describe how awesome this album is, because it comes off as something that's completely evident in and of itself. Forget Me Not is a masterpiece within a lagging subgenre of sell-outs and derivatives.

But, this isn't the best album ever. Next up, well... if you searched around, you could get this one. But if nobody could tell that #2 was going to be Forget Me Not, this isn't going to be obvious at all.
Report Spam   Logged
Random
Your Mileage May Vary
Global Moderator
Epic Post Whore
*****
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Mood: Melancholy
Posts: 26,563


You're gonna carry that weight.


WWW
« Reply #57 on: 11 April, 2011, 04:31:47 pm »

Persuader is still awesome.
Lost Horizon was pretty fantastic. I was trying to think of who that singer reminds me of, but I realized that he's easily better than whoever it was. So versatile.

Listening to Machinae Supremacy stuff now.
Report Spam   Logged

"What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously.

But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured." - Kurt Vonnegut, jr.
Random
Your Mileage May Vary
Global Moderator
Epic Post Whore
*****
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Mood: Melancholy
Posts: 26,563


You're gonna carry that weight.


WWW
« Reply #58 on: 11 April, 2011, 05:21:54 pm »

Machinae Supremacy was alright. Had some really cool parts in there.
Herrschaft is really awesome.
Report Spam   Logged

"What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously.

But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured." - Kurt Vonnegut, jr.
ganonfloyd
The Saga Continues
Godly Post Whore
************
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
I'm: Floyd
Stand: King Crimson
Mood: Drained
Posts: 44,843


Space is Deep


« Reply #59 on: 11 April, 2011, 06:11:02 pm »

number oneeeee
Report Spam   Logged


Floyd is the devil.
I SERIOUSLY DREAMT OF FLOYD BEING A KILLER CYBORG WHO RAN 10 TIMES FASTER THAN ANY NORMAL HUMAN, AND THEN KILLED MM, TURNED FEMALE, WENT AFTER ME, AND I DROPPED FROM THE SKYSCRAPER! IT HURTED, BUT I AWAKE CALMLY, THINKING I WOULDN'T SEE YOU AGAIN.
*no gold, just us*
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by EzPortal
Bookmark this site! | Upgrade This Forum
SMF For Free - Create your own Forum

Powered by SMF | SMF © 2016, Simple Machines
Privacy Policy