Ooh, the last pairing is pretty brutal, because although I love Symph X much more than Primordial, Divine Wings ain't the best album they're capable of (the middle part drags a lot) whereas the Primordial album is the best Primordial album, period. I suspect Wings is gonna win, so I'm going with the underdog here (also, the band needs more love in general). Primordial it is.
I never got the weird obsession this forum has for the Martin-era Sabbath, it's not the worst thing ever, but nothing really special. But then again, I'm the eejit who prefers Ozzy era to Dio era, so what do I know? (well, it's because the former is infinitely more creative than that Rainbow rehash, however cool the singular moments like H&H (the song) may be). Whereas Overkill were pretty good to headbang when I was on the thrash binge about six years ago.
The next one - although Opeth might be (possibly) my favourite metal band ever, I'd like to see myself as not really blinded by the fanboyish rush and be able to admit they have their higher and their lower points. Now, I get what Foro likes about Orchid and sure, the harmonies are sweet, some of the ideas are great, but the songs are very hodge-podge and half-baked, with jarring changes and so-so production and I find both Morningrise AND MAYH to be more consistently enjoyable in the long run (though they surely too have their flaws).
Still, Motorhead... I like it, sure, I wouldn't even doubt this one's one of their better records (though at least Orgasmatron and Another Perfect Day are definitely better, maybe some other ones, too), it's just... dunno, they don't thrill me as much as Akerfeldt & Co. It's probably the riffs - Mikael to me is the one heir to Tony Iommi in that he's able to produce unbelievably great riffs on the spot. And in metal I find that to be pretty important. Although I admit that the 'Head have better groove going on. And the flow and stuff.
So what do I do? Don't know, I guess it's a tie. Voting for Opeth because of blind fanboyism and because they're curently losing.
Hell Fire and Iced Earth - heh, here I don't really know and don't really care. I guess both efforts are kinda good, but none thrills me in the proper way, so I'm gonna vote for Hell Fire, because despite the name they at least have no "edgy" pentagrams on the cover (hey! any reason to pick, right?) and because I know Iced Earth can do better.
