Best Ever Albums

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Cyrax — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 14:21:10 GMT

Author: Cyrax

Posted: 11/13/2020 19:21

I'm not familiar with as much Metal as many are here but I think Brave New World by Iron Maiden is quite an accessible album.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Mercury — Mon, 9 Nov 2020 19:59:10 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 11/10/2020 00:59

first 4 sabbath albums (the 4th is my fave personally). Master of Puppets maybe if you want something faster but also super accessible. Maybe Sad Wings of Destiny by Judas Priest and that's what I got. Metal has so many genres within it and it depends what you find you like from the small amount you've heard.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Spyglass — Mon, 9 Nov 2020 12:45:58 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 11/09/2020 17:45

Kylie-Swans wrote:

baystateoftheart wrote:

For me the first three Black Sabbath albums were a gateway into enjoying metal, which I was very skeptical of as a genre until a few years ago. They're still my favorites.

I didn't much like Metallica's black album.

Wait, Black Sabbath is metal? I thought it was hard rock. I love the album "Paranoid" so I guess I'm already off to a good start #-o

They're right in the middle. Some will say that the Black Sabbath debut album was the first metal album. A more purist attitude will direct that attitude to Master of Reality.

Prog Metal might be the best way for you to go. Since you singled out Genesis, I'm going to assume you're in tune with the symphonic side? Then I have a perfect act for you to check out: Therion, symphonic metal with a progressive side. Start with either Vovin or Theli. Don't be fooled by Theli's shitty album cover. It's an incredible record (one that I forgot to put in my chart). Also check out Fates Warning, Dream Theater and potentially Queensryche, even though I don't consider them very progressive like some other people do. Dream Theater is Pink Floyd-inspired so you might get a kick out of them.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into me

Repo — Mon, 9 Nov 2020 05:52:10 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 11/09/2020 10:52

Kylie-Swans wrote:

I'm a big fan of progressive rock. Especially Pink Floyd & Genesis

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

No Exit by Fates Warning

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Kylie-Swans — Mon, 9 Nov 2020 00:46:37 GMT

Author: Kylie-Swans

Posted: 11/09/2020 05:46

baystateoftheart wrote:

Wait, Black Sabbath is metal? I thought it was hard rock. I love the album "Paranoid" so I guess I'm already off to a good start 🤡

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into me

Kylie-Swans — Mon, 9 Nov 2020 00:42:22 GMT

Author: Kylie-Swans

Posted: 11/09/2020 05:42

Spyglass wrote:

What kind of music do you currently like? If you're a pop fan, start a little small with something like the Van Halen debut or Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crue. A very good start for metal (and a revolutionary one for its mainstream success) is Metallica, a.k.a. The Black Album.. Then move onto Iron Maoden's first seven albums.

I'm a big fan of progressive rock. Especially Pink Floyd & Genesis

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Spyglass — Sun, 8 Nov 2020 00:13:57 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 11/08/2020 05:13

Hey, Kylie, your thread inspired me to finish this metal chart. I'm a bit new myself but I've heard hundreds of metal albums. I've been working on this slowly on Word but I spent hours putting it together today. Once you get through the recs you've been given, feel free to use my top 100 metal albums list to look for starting recommendations.

https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=63056

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Skinny — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 18:31:41 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 11/07/2020 23:31

Mount Rushmore of British rap: Roots Manuva, Wiley, Task Force, Giggs. Please note that I left out all of my favourites in order to try to put together something "objective". Doesn't happen often.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Spyglass — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 18:10:03 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 11/07/2020 23:10

^Yeah it was you, and what you're saying is very true. In order to even find a proper 4 you may have to rely on location for much of hip hop. East coast, west coast, southern, Memphis, it gets interesting. Metal is less reliant on location but it can help. Many metal scenes evolve from California, but Germany loves its metal as well. The power metal scene is one of Germany's biggest and greatest achievements, but we've got bands from all over the world as well, especially in America and Japan. Dragonforce is one of the more iconic acts, but there aren't many British power metal acts that have reached those heights. If I had to make a big 4 for power metal, it would have to be Helloween, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray and Running Wild. But there are some pwer metal bands I consider way better than Running Wild. But limiting it to the German bands, while appropriate, doesn't take into account that there are some bands better than Running Wild, like Virgin Steele. Basing such things on location also gets confusing considering thar you'd have multiple big fours for the same genre.

I know you said this should be reserved for another thread, but I figured a little extra metal knowledge might help. After Iron Maiden, Helloween might be good to explore.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Skinny — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 17:08:57 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 11/07/2020 22:08

Spyglass wrote:

I can understand an occasional big four, but it can be a serious challenge to big out only four bands from one scene. I recall a similar conversation about Southern Hip Hop and its greatest influences, and there were four or five suggestions. Since I'm not the hip hop guy, I can't really say anything about for certain, even though Southern Hip Hop is one of my favorite kinds of hip hop. But the idea of simply picking four can exclude a lot of great potentials.

I think it was me, mentioning that my personal Mount Rushmore of "Southern hip-hop" consists of UGK, Outkast, Scarface/Geto Boys, and Three 6 Mafia. You could reasonably add Jeezy or Gucci or Wayne or maybe even Z-Ro or Future to that list, but I would largely argue that most Southern rap music since takes elements or attitudes from the four I put forward initially. On the West Coast, I'd tend to look towards NWA, Too $hort, Snoop, Tupac, E-40, Quik, and maybe even Freestyle Fellowship or Kendrick. The East Coast is too vast in its history, but I'd lean towards Run DMC, Biggie, Rakim, maybe Jay-Z or Nas or Kool G. Rap or Kane or Mobb Deep or Tribe or Slick Rick (even though the latter's laconic, buttery flow was arguably more influential elsewhere). Anyways, I tend to think that hip-hop producers are more influential than rappers in shaping regional trends (as evidenced by my Southern picks, three of whom are at least as influential sonically as they are in terms of lyrics or performance), but this is a conversation for another thread.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Spyglass — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 14:14:47 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 11/07/2020 19:14

LedZep wrote:

I had confused myself in the process of clarifying things it seems 😁 Most metal styles of music having a "big 4" is a stupid idea, I agree. Even if it's purely based on album sales.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

LedZep — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 13:49:15 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 11/07/2020 18:49

Spyglass wrote:

I know what you're saying. I just don't think every style should have one. You suggested that most styles of music may have one now so I expressed my hope in not seeing that become a more official things. I know the thrash one's legitimate, but Anthrax has to be replaced.

I had confused myself in the process of clarifying things it seems 😁 Most metal styles of music having a "big 4" is a stupid idea, I agree. Even if it's purely based on album sales.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Spyglass — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 13:42:45 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 11/07/2020 18:42

I know what you're saying. I just don't think every style should have one. You suggested that most styles of music may have one now so I expressed my hope in not seeing that become a more official things. I know the thrash one's legitimate, but Anthrax has to be replaced.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

LedZep — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 13:40:11 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 11/07/2020 18:40

Spyglass wrote:

Hopefully not. I really don't think every form of music can be exclusively represented by only four bands. And if I might suggest, Anthrax? Not Artillery or Testament or Overkill? Overkill's still killing. Have you heard Wings of War?

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, sorry. The "big 4" of metal (Sabbath, Maiden, Metallica, Priest) is my unofficial and not very serious idea. The other 3 which I've mentioned are "official" (as in, widely used since at least the 90s in magazines, forums etc.) So I haven't put Anthrax in the "Big 4" of thrash, somebody else in the 80s has, probably based on their nationality (those 4 are US bands) and commercial success. There was even the "Big 4" tour.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Spyglass — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 13:22:27 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 11/07/2020 18:22

Fischman wrote:

LedZep wrote:

Like I said, that “big 4” is my own unofficial idea, mostly based on popularity and accessibility. Like 80% of people who are into metal have started with one of those 4 bands. You could add Mötorhead too I guess.
There’s a thrash “Big 4” of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, and there’s also a German “Teutonic Big 4” of Kreator, Sodom, Destruction and Tankard. I’ve also heard about Florida death metal “Big 4”, Death, Obituary, Deicide and Morbid Angel. There’s probably a big 4 for everything now.

Thats a good Big 4 of Thrash, but thrash is only one form of metal and not the one I'd have a new start with.

I think as far as the early albums go, Metallica should be the starting point and Master of Puppets should be the next album. In fact, you may want to play them back to back, Kylie.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Fischman — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 13:01:22 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 11/07/2020 18:01

LedZep wrote:

Thats a good Big 4 of Thrash, but thrash is only one form of metal and not the one I'd have a new start with.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Fischman — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 12:59:42 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 11/07/2020 17:59

Spyglass wrote:

Most people say that the best one is either Number of the Beast or Powerslave but the debut is lighter than both and still very good, so I guess you should check out their self-titled debut first.

I dunno....
Piece of mind is more accessible, but if you're coming from outside genre, the real gateway to Maiden is Somewhere in Time and then Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Spyglass — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 11:57:51 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 11/07/2020 16:57

LedZep wrote:

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

LedZep — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 11:49:54 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 11/07/2020 16:49

Like I said, that “big 4” is my own unofficial idea, mostly based on popularity and accessibility. Like 80% of people who are into metal have started with one of those 4 bands. You could add Mötorhead too I guess.
There’s a thrash “Big 4” of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, and there’s also a German “Teutonic Big 4” of Kreator, Sodom, Destruction and Tankard. I’ve also heard about Florida death metal “Big 4”, Death, Obituary, Deicide and Morbid Angel. There’s probably a big 4 for everything now.

Re: What's a good album to start with if I wanna get into metal?

Spyglass — Sat, 7 Nov 2020 11:35:48 GMT

Author: Spyglass

Posted: 11/07/2020 16:35

NewsFromHome wrote:

She started with Flood! I'm bisexual but I'm currently with a woman. She was thrown off by how pretty it was and went to investigate and now we're here.

Now she's been listening to prog metal recently? Mainly some local diy bands like Strawberry Girls but recently some Atheist and Edge of Sanity.

Gotcha. I'll try to remember that.

LedZep wrote:

Probably not Cryptopsy

I mostly agree with what others have said. There's this "big 4" of metal (my imaginary "big 4", it's not a widely used term) of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Metallica. I think those 4 are an excellent way to get into metal, all of them are widely acclaimed within metal community and everyone loves them (apart from maybe Metallica). So the 4 albums would be:

Brutal death metal in general is a terrible starting point for metal unless you already listen to harsh noise music.

That's a pretty good big four. Isn't there one for thrash?

Btw, Kylie, whenever you feel like letting us know how the metal journey is going, I'd love to hear about it (I am a HUGE metal fan).

Repo wrote:

Great question! You've already got tons of great picks but just for fun...

Metal Starter Kit
1. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
2. Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
3. Van Halen - Van Halen
4. Iron Maiden - Number Of The Beast
5. Metallica - Master Of Puppets
6. Guns & Roses - Appetite For Destruction
7. Alice In Chains - Dirt
8. Soundgarden - Superunknown
9. Tool - Aenima
10. Queens Of The Stone Age - Rated R
11. Mastodon - Leviathan

Paranoid is an excellent choice.
I never really considered Sad Wings of Destiny to be a metal album. It seemed way too light.
Van Halen is a good choice.
Number of the Beast is a phenomenal record, but yes, she should probably start with Paranoid like you said.
Maser of Puppets might have to wait until after she tries Metallica.
I avoided mentioning Appetite for Destruction because of Axl's voice, but I love the album either way.
I completely forgot about Dirt. Maybe alternative metal would make a good start.
Superunknown was my introduction to Soundgarden.
Aenima is fantastic, but I think she should work through the Tool discography from the debut to the last album.
Rated R certainly feels a lot like a metal album, so I'll agree with this one.
Leviathan might be a little too heavy for now, but it is incredible.