Please guide me into the world of metal

[Malta Soron]

I've been listening to metal for some time, but until now I mainly listened to power metal, and only to a few bands (Sonata Arctica, Blind Guardian, Dream Evil, DragonForce). However, recently I stumbled upon "Absolute Power Metal 2004 - The Definitive Collection", which contains 100 songs of almost as much artists. This made me realise that there is a lot of metal (genres) that I never listened to. So I ask you: could you name me the albums (please, don't only name artists, but also the specific albums) that I should listen to get a good, extensive image of (the best of) heavy metal? Thanks

[Fiberfar]

Hmm... Let's see what I can come up with

The Triumph of Steel - Manowar (got some of the heaviest songs they've put out to date)
Heavy Metal Thunder - Saxon (CD 1 rocks like mad)
Lionheart - Saxon
Invictus - Virgin Steele
Third Wish - Feinstein
Holy Diver - Dio
W.A.S.P - W.A.S.P
Painkiller - Judas Priest


I'll add more when I can think of some, but that should do the trick for now

[Malta Soron]

Thanks

[Malta Soron]

I'm listening Manowar right now and it surely is good
Anymore suggestions?

[Gilliatt]

I am a power metal fan as well, but I prefer power metal bands like Helloween, Gamma Ray and Edguy to those you mentioned. (I can't stand Sonata Artica's singer!)

I definitely agree with Painkiller and W.A.S.P.

Here are some of my suggestions:

Iron Maiden: Number of the Beast, Somewhere in Time, or Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Megadeth: Rust in Peace

Death: Symbolic (very heavy, but extremely good musicians)

King Diamond: Abigail, Them, or The Eye (Abigail is King Diamond's personnal favorite, Them is my favorite but the sound is not as good, and The Eye is more commercial than the two others. You have to love King's voice though, it is VERY special.)

Slayer: Seasons in the Abyss

Some personnal favorites, but not considered "classics" are Overkill's Horrorscope , Metal Church's Blessing in Disguise and The Human Factor, and Alice Cooper's Raise your Fist and Yell.

I also like Symphony X, a progressive metal band, their last album, The Odyssey, is their heavier.

As a power metal fan, do you know Iced Earth, Kamelot and Lost Horizon?

[Fiberfar]

Originally Posted by Gilliatt

King Diamond: Abigail, Them, or The Eye (Abigail is King Diamond's personnal favorite, Them is my favorite but the sound is not as good, and The Eye is more commercial than the two others. You have to love King's voice though, it is VERY special.)

Indeed... I read that he sounds like Rob Halford on steroids, times ten
And I couldn't agree more.

Originally Posted by Gilliatt

As a power metal fan, do you know Iced Earth, Kamelot and Lost Horizon?

Hm... I've heard a few songs with Kamelot (one with that Dimmu Borgir guy on guest vocals. Horrible).

Iced Earth is the best of those bands by far IMHO.

[Gilliatt]

Fiberfar, Iced Earth is by far a better band than Kamelot and Lost Horizon IMHO too.

About Kamelot, I like approx. 50 % of their songs. Some of them, like Center of the Universe and Farewell are pretty good IMHO.

[Gilliatt]

I still remember the first time I listened to Triumph of Steel. It was about 2 A.M., I put the headphones on, but forgot to turn the speakers off. My parents were not too happy! The Manowar guys would have been proud!

I am still wondering if Rhino is a flesh and blood person or a drum machine.

[Kipi]

I would suggest the followings:
Once - Nightwish
Century Child - Nightwish
Are You Dead Yet - Children of Bodom
Mutter - Rammstein
The Funeral Album - Sentenced
Down - Sentenced
World of Lies - The Berzerker (Note: it's quite aggressive album...)

Here are the ones I can think right now...

[Fiberfar]

Originally Posted by Gilliatt

I still remember the first time I listened to Triumph of Steel. It was about 2 A.M., I put the headphones on, but forgot to turn the speakers off. My parents were not too happy! The Manowar guys would have been proud!

I am still wondering if Rhino is a flesh and blood person or a drum machine.

I've never heard something like his double bass-drumming before in my life. It's insane. He is very much a real person, as shown on the newest Manowar DVD

[Kipi]

Originally Posted by Fiberfar

I've never heard something like his double bass-drumming before in my life. It's insane. He is very much a real person, as shown on the newest Manowar DVD

*Cough*The*Cough*Berzerker*Courgh*...

[Gilliatt]

Kipi, I just listened to some Berzerker's demos on the net. I don't know their drummer so I can't judge him, but I know most of these ultrafast drummers can't do it live. No kidding, some of them cannot even do a AC/DC song because they have no beat at all. So far, the only ones I have seen that can reproduce live what they do in the studio are Gene Hoglan (ex-Death), Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel) and Patrice Hamelin (Martyr). I am not saying that the Berzerker's drummer is a fake, it's just that I am not easily impressed when I listen to that kind of music. I have seen too many death and black metal drummers playing very fast, but also very inaccurate and out of beat when playing live to be impressed by a studio album. (If you know Slayer, you will know what I am talking about. A lot of people were impressed when Bostaph replaced Lombardo, but the fact is that Bostaph is a bad drummer and Lombardo is an awesome drummer. I can also give you an example I am sure you know: I have seen Children of Bodom live twice, the first time it was dissapointing, the second time, it was horrible!) I tell you that because I know nothing about your musical background, but you might already know all of this.

Fiberfar, I'll probably have a look at that DVD, thanks for the info.

[Malta Soron]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try to get them.

Originally Posted by Gilliatt

As a power metal fan, do you know Iced Earth, Kamelot and Lost Horizon?

I have some Iced Earth albums lieing around, but I never listen to them

EDIT: Added Days of Purgatory to the playlist

[Gilliatt]

Days of Purgatory has some good songs. I really love Pure Evil and Travel in Stygian. My favorite IE album is Something Wicked this Way Comes, the Something Wicked Trilogy is awesome.

I have another suggestion:

Ozzy Osbourne - Tribute (a live album were you can see why Randy Rhoads (R.I.P.) was the most respected metal guitarist.)

If you do not have them already, you should definitely also try the three following albums:

Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I and Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II

Gamma Ray - Somewhere out in Space

[Mandalorianx]

Imaginations From The Other Side, Nightfall In Middle-Earth - Blind Guardian
Allegiance - Firewind
Sands Of Time - Black Majesty
The Inner Circle - Evergrey
The Black Halo - Kamelot
Mutter - Rammstein
Dreamland Manor - Savage Circus
Arrows - Stonegard
Demons And Wizards - Demons And Wizards
United - Dream Evil
Dark Saga - Iced Earth