Essential heavy metal albums by essential heavy metal artists

No, I don't think it gets lost at all. I grew up with Priest and am 56 years old. The height is Stained Glass and I don't put that anywhere near heavy metal. I also believe that Halford's Live Insurrection is more metal than almost anything he did in Priest. That only one being Unleashed in the East. Iron Maiden is metal. Priest is rock. Just a different opinion....

 

Respectfully disagree. Stuff like Screaming for Vengeance is very much heavy metal (though in a decidedly commercial vein). Their stuff from 82 to present is definitely metal. British Steel is a mixture. Before 79, I could see an argument made for hard rock, but most point at Sad Wings as a tr00 metal album, so ...

I guess it’s what the listener considers it to be. Sub genre classification and arguing over ‘what’s metal and what’s not’ is for the birds. Good day, sir

 

Again, I don't have to pick and chose through catalogs like Maiden, Sabbath, Metallica, Megadeth, Overkill, Pantera, Slayer, Anthrax or Testament... etc to find their heavy metal. To each his own my friend........... And after re- reading your post you are saying Priest was more metal, than rock, after Point of Entry than before? Is that including the Ripper stuff? Because I don't mind it but don't consider that Priest. Oh yea, I love Nostradamus, but don't consider that anywhere near metal........respectfully of course.

 

I don't know exactly how new to Hard Rock/ Metal you are but if I had never heard these albums I would find it confusing to listen with that format, a few of the top rated of four decades. I think it would be better to proceed chronologically and as that would be starting in the 1970s include those bands which cause some...mild discussion . Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rush, AC/DC, Motorhead. Get the foundation/ understanding in place before moving on to the 1980s and the the vast expansion in many directions that took place.

 

No arguments here about “Stained Class,” which is in my top 3 Priest albums of all time. The number one slot, of which, will always be safely occupied by the untouchable “Painkiller.”

So, now, I have to ask: do you consider Painkiller “metal?”

 

I respect your opinion. But I just can't see a Priest fan that puts Painkiller above Stained Glass, Sad Wings, Sin After Sin or Screaming For Vengeance. That is not including what I consider the more commercial British Steel or Hell Bent For Leather. Both, are better for me than Painkiller. Also, I enjoy Redeemer of Souls more also. But that is OK, it's your opinion. I just don't agree with it.

As far as Painkiller, they certainly were striving for a new direction into metal. Which is of course making my point on this thread. I don't think they found it. The lyrics are unimpressive, though I am not beholden to them in my music enjoyment. I like Touch of Evil, Painkiller and One Shot at Glory. Leather Rebel, All Guns Are Blazing and Metal Breakdown are not favorites. I really think here what people hear is a more pronounced drum sound than maybe any other Priest album due to the addition of Scott Travis.

To answer your question.........no. I think they made a bigger statement on Nostradamus than the diversion into what other bands were doing during the period. Not trying to be argumentative, I just have been a fan of theirs from the get go. I do not think they are a metal band.

 

From reading your prior posts, I would never think you were being argumentative for its own sake, and I do respect your opinion.

That being said, putting aside our differences on all other Priest albums save Painkiller, I simply do not understand how anyone can listen to even the first 30 seconds of the album and categorize it as rock and not metal.

But since we cannot even agree on what I believe to be a fundamental premise of Painkiller, I fear we shall never be able to have a proper discussion concerning any of Priest’s albums. Especially considering Rob himself stated, “Yeah, I think there was a determined effort on our part, when we were writing the album in the south of France, to make the strongest, fiercest metal record that we could make.“

Source: ROB HALFORD Talks New Album, Painkiller And Speed Metal - “JUDAS PRIEST Is Kind Of Like The Big Eye Of Sauron From The Lord Of The Rings”

 

Do you know how many times I have heard classic rock period bands and their fans say this album is a return to__X__ period of ours? Do you know how many times I have seen that threshold met? Very few. Halford says the same thing about Painkiller. It might have been a "determined effort", but they did not reach it as far as I'm concerned. Painkiller, the song, does sound like thrash or speed metal. All n all, as an album, the rest falls short. I thought we were having a rational discussion and it did not turn into any name calling here. I just don't agree and that is OK. Nice chatting with you respectfully.........

 

Nugent's 1st album
Van Halen's 1st album
Metallica's 1st ...........

 

Of course we are rational and not name-calling one another; that simply isn’t what we do.

But if we fail to agree that Painkiller - as a whole - is a metal album, it is impossible to engage in a meeting of the minds since we can’t even agree on what I believe to be a fundamental premise. Because trying to change our minds on the issue will be a Sisyphean endeavor at best

I’m sure we can/will debate other things in the future, though!

 

I can't believe there are people (not trolls) posting on a music forum that don't know that Judas Priest is a metal band.

 

Trying to draw a clear and consistent dividing line between hard rock and heavy metal will always be a tad problematic.

 

Painkiller rules. Total metal.

 

I've been trying to figure out if Death and Obituary are still metal since there's now heavier stuff out there.

 

Yacht Rock.

 

Death’s first three albums are death metal, their next two after those are proggish death metal, and their last album is just a masterpiece I’d simply label metal.

Obituary is just straight up Floridian death metal. I’m a huge fan of “Cause of Death.”

 

*enters thread

*sees most posts are about what is heavy metal and what isn't

*leaves thread

 

In all fairness my mention above is making fun of the people doing that.

 

Warlock - “Hellbound”

 

In the context of this particular thread, it's also arguably very thread-crappy.

 

Probably the only rational response!

 

Yachts are pretty damn heavy.

 

Diamond Head's Lightning to the Nations deserves a mention (just heard it for the first time the other day).

Classic late 70s NWOBHM album that influenced a plethora of bands, including Metallica, for example.

 

Denim and Leather

Brought Us All Together.

 

Megadeth - Rust In Peace

/close thread