I am pretty much full of opinions. I don't expect that a lot of people share a lot of them, especially when it comes to music. That being said, this thing basically exists as a means for me to fellate my own ego and possibly entertain the one or two of you reading this (possibly over optimistic on that one) with the same sarcastic Sense of humor that I have. With that out of the way, lets jump into the opinion pool.
Everyone has favorite albums. The ones that you can throw in your CD player and listen all the way through pretty much anytime. They are the ones that mean something to us on a personal level, or the ones that just for some reason "click". These are the albums that have and will withstand the test of time for you, the ones you bought back in high school and never outgrew. These may not be the best albums put out by the band in question but they have that X factor that makes them into something special.
Without further ado, here is my list in no particular order.
1) Blind Guardian - Nightfall on Middle Earth
I have to admit right off the bat, I have a soft spot in my heart for concept albums. It doesn't hurt that I am also a huge Tolkien nerd. To me, this album is absolutely immersive. I can put it on, close my eyes and I feel like I am standing next to Fingolfin as he fights the dark lord during Time Stands Still (At The Iron Hill). On the technical side, the album has fantastic production values. The sound is very well balanced, Hansi's voice soars over music without over powering anything. At times, it is difficult to believe these guys are just making heavy metal. This is opera with electric guitars and I love every second of it.
2) Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
Pure sonic testosterone. I discovered Pantera back in highschool and they swiftly became my favorite band. Vulgar Display of Power may just be the angriest full length album ever. What is most impressive however, is the fact that they manage to be this heavy and pissed off and not lose any of the musicianship that makes each individual member so great. Phil Anselmo has a fantastic voice that just oozes masculinity. Dimebag Darrell turned sludgy, fast, heavy riffs into an art form, and then to prove a point annihilates everything with some of the sickest solos I have ever heard. Vinnie Paul plays with the inevitability of an avalanche barreling down a mountain to crush the pitiful humans standing at the bottom. Rex takes all of the potential chaos happening on either side of him and blends it into a powerful bass line that keeps everyone from flying off the track. No mean feat when you have to keep up with an avalanche and a flamethrower.
3)Led Zeppelin IV
This was among the first 2 albums I ever owned. I got this along with Tommy by the Who when I was 10 years old. Ever since the first time I put this on, Stairway to Heaven has been my most favorite song in the entire world. But, one song does not a great album make. That's what singles are for. Even without Stairway, this would still be on my list. Again there are all sorts of Tolkien references so that gets my nerd blood pumping, but that isn't everything. The music is haunting and beautiful (Battle of Evermore), bluesy (rock and roll), light and fun (Misty Mountain Hop), and slow and powerful (When the Levee Breaks). The whole album is a testament to everything that is rock and roll.
4) Fear Factory - Obsolete
A lot of people will say that Demanufacture is the better album. Hit for hit I would tend to agree. However, as a whole, Obsolete is much stronger to me. Again, I am a sucker for the concept album so that does color my judgment. While Demanufacture has monster songs like Zero Signal, Bodyhammer, and Newbreed, Obsolete just doesn't have any low points. It starts off like a shotgun blast with Shock and doesn't slow down until the end of act II with Descent. Act III picks right back up and continues the staccato assault right until the last song where our hero, sitting in jail, reflects on the fate of humanity. Though there is a lot of aggression packed into 10 tracks, there are also a lot of thought provoking statements. If you really listen to the message of the album, much like if you pay attention to any dystopian movie, you can't help but think maybe we really are dooming ourselves with our reliance on technology.
5) Amorphis - Elegy
This was my first exposure to folk metal and I still haven't looked back. Like Fear Factory, I would not say that this is their best album but there is something in it that just makes everything click. Until they recorded Elegy, Amorphis was just another black metal band. In fact, I would even come out and say that I do not like anything they recorded before this one. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this band, and since Elegy I have enjoyed every single album they have recorded. This is the beginning of something wonderful, but it isn't only notable for being the first part of a journey. Better Unborn is still my favorite Amorphis song of all time, Weeper on the Shore has the feel of a pub song down on the wharfs, and My Kantele is sad and mournful sounding and more than a bit melancholy. What has always gotten me about Amorphis is that the singer, no matter who it is, isn't just putting words to music, he is another instrument in the band. They may have improved over the years and changed the line up quite a bit (especially the singer) but this is the album I always find myself coming back to.
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