GREATEST METAL ALBUM CUP - Winner: Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son!

Jer said:
Maybe I dozed off, but I never heard anything like black metal vocals on that Alcest album. I would not associate it with black metal in any way at all. What am I missing?
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Well here's the thing, that album doesn't have black metal vocals, but most of Alcest's other works do. The Deafhaven comparison would be more dead on for you if you listened to the EPs and albums that preceded and succeeded the one in the game, it's the exact same style. The one in the game is still a very understandable comparison though, certainly not something that warrants a WTF response. The combination of metal and shoegazing defines the sound of both bands.
 
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Jer said:
Maybe I dozed off, but I never heard anything like black metal vocals on that Alcest album. I would not associate it with black metal in any way at all. What am I missing?
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From WIkipedia
" After having signed to Prophecy Productions in March 2007,[20] Alcest's debut album Souvenirs d'un autre monde was released in early August of the same year,[21] and drew comparisons with the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Jesu.[6][22][23] According to Pitchfork's Brandon Stosuy, the album "isn't black metal at all", and compared it to "a lighter take on Jesu shoegazing". "
 
Re Alcest and Deafheaven: the black metal is just one component of each band’s sound. To listen only for that element as a common factor shows a lack of understanding of the overall style.
 
Mosh said:
Re Alcest and Deafheaven: the black metal is just one component of each band’s sound. To listen only for that element as a common factor shows a lack of understanding of the overall style.
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Well, I could put some fecal matter in a creme brulee and then say it’s a lot like other desserts. A person who is horrified by the idea of shit being in their dessert would probably find that comparison preposterous, since the presence of shit wipes out any other meaningful similarities, while an avid shit connoisseur would comment on that person’s lack of understanding of fine desserts. To each their own.
 
It kind of makes sense that it's still tied here. I highly doubt anyone would change their vote from the group stage, so the only way to break the tie is to get some brand new voters, or hope some of the previous voters don't vote in the extra time period. I imagine penalty kicks might end up being a common occurance for all the ties that end up happening.
 
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Jer said:
Well, I could put some fecal matter in a creme brulee and then say it’s a lot like other desserts. A person who is horrified by the idea of shit being in their dessert would probably find that comparison preposterous, since the presence of shit wipes out any other meaningful similarities, while an avid shit connoisseur would comment on that person’s lack of understanding of fine desserts. To each their own.
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You'd still be able to recognize it as creme brulee, just one ruined with shit on top. The objection to your response wasn't with regard to the fact that you considered Deafhaven inferior to Alcest, you see, it was that you didn't recognize the similarities regardless of what added element may have ruined the overall experience. The analogy doesn't work as well as you think it does.
 
From a horse as high as the one Jer sits upon, any analogy works no matter how poorly thought out.

Lampwick 43 said:
It kind of makes sense that it's still tied here. I highly doubt anyone would change their vote from the group stage, so the only way to break the tie is to get some brand new voters, or hope some of the previous voters don't vote in the extra time period. I imagine penalty kicks might end up being a common occurance for all the times that end up happening.
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I would change my vote, I don’t care about either albums that much.
 
The Flash said:
You'd still be able to recognize it as creme brulee, just one ruined with shit on top.
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Fair point. It probably depends on how much the shit drowned out the other flavors.
The Flash said:
The objection to your response wasn't with regard to the fact that you considered Deafhaven inferior to Alcest, you see, it was that you didn't recognize the similarities regardless of what added element may have ruined the overall experience. The analogy doesn't work as well as you think it does.
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I think part of the issue is that I’m coming in with no context but being judged by those who have it. Given my complete non-familiarity with Alcest, if I’ve only ever heard that particular album, what about it would ever make me associate it with black metal? It sounds like some lackadaisical alt-rock band. And it’s not just one song, it’s the whole album. Being honest with yourself, if you listened to that in a vacuum, would the thought of black metal ever enter your mind? I doubt it. If you replaced the vocals with rap vocals, would it still be black metal? Based on your description, I guess maybe it would be? That seems extremely odd.

But you’re right that there are some shared shoegaze elements. I can see that much.
Mosh said:
From a horse as high as the one Jer sits upon, any analogy works no matter how poorly thought out.
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Condescendingly delivered complaints about condescension. Irony truly is dead.
 
Kicks avoided at the last minute, and we'll end League 17 here!

Hammerfall defeats Burzum. Burzum will return in League 3, a very strong seeding for Hvis Iyset Tar Oss.
Suffocation defeats Boohwal in extra time to squeak on. Unsurprisingly, the Korean pop-rockers are eliminated, and Suffocation faces Coroner in the next round.
Dark Angel strongly beats High on Fire, who are eliminated from the game. They're against Deftones next.
Finally, Alcest has a solid victory over Morbid Angel. Morbid Angel has one album left, a very strong seeding in League 2.
 
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Turelli/Lione Rhapsody - Zero Gravity (Rebirth and Evolution) (2019)

How it got here
List entries: Metal Kingdom 54
League 16 - Match 1vs.
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AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)

How it got here
List entries: Metal Rules 71
Previous Rounds:
League 17: Defeated Korn - Follow the Leader 25-2.
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Marilyn Manson - Portrait of an American Family (1994)

How it got here
List entries: Rolling Stone 68
League 16 - Match 2vs.
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Death - The Sound of Perseverance (1998)

How it got here
List entries: Metal Kingdom 94
Previous Rounds:
League 17: Defeated Soundgarden - Louder Than Love 15-12.
League 18: Defeated Deafheaven - Sunbather 28-2.
 
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Helmet - Meantime (1992)

How it got here
List entries: Rolling Stone 54
League 16 - Match 3vs.
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Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985)
How it got here
List entries: Metal Rules 85
Previous Rounds:
League 17: Defeated Evanescence - Fallen 22-6.
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Sleep - Jerusalem/Dopesmoker (1999/2003)

How it got here
List entries: Rolling Stone 62
League 16 - Match 4vs.
Van_Halen_-_Van_Halen_II.jpg

Van Halen - Van Halen II (1979)

How it got here
List entries: Metal Rules 72
Previous Rounds:
League 17: Defeated Accept - Blood of the Nations 16-11.
 
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Turelli/Lione Rhapsody - this stuff is preposterous

AC/DC - detailed opinion given in the last round

AC/DC with the win.

Marilyn Manson - never a fan of Manson although he was probably slightly more palatable than the rest of that mid-90s scene looking back although I thought he was just as shit as the rest of them at the time :lol: It's really just Alice Cooper dumbed down for the 90s

Death - this seems to have been influential as most 2000s millennial metal seems to be ripping off the vocals and drum and guitar sounds. that's not a plus point for me

I don't want to vote for Manson but I'll have to as that Death track is shit, it's also the third track so far I've heard from that album and none of it has done anything for me

Helmet - not aware of these other than the track that was on the Judgement Night soundtrack, not awful, another track that sounds to me like it influenced bands that came afterwards, I suspect Adrian Smith was a fan as there's a hint of Welcome to the Pit off parts

Megadeth - detailed opinion given the last round

Megadeth with the win

Sleep - opinion given the first round, it was probably for a different album but who can tell the difference?

Van Halen - opinion given the last round

Van Halen with the win
 
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First contest and what we get? More Symphonic PM/BS... swell. AC/DC gets my vote easily almost by default.

Then we have Manson's debut: a poor man's NIN Broken under closer inspection. On the other hand there's one of the many an excellent albums by Chuck and company. Death's also an easy choice here.

Now here's the first clash between two great albums... Meantime's impact is easy to spot: one of the most influential records regarding 90's metal riffing. Although based on relatively basic constructs Helmet's compositions are catchy as hell, amazingly powerful, filled with hooks and drags the listener like an anchor. But Megadeth's debut is also a powerhouse and something ahead of its time regarding riffage, all wrapped in blanket of fury and speed like little few did before. It's a virtual tie but I'll give Mustaine the edge.

Finally we get Van Halen II: not one of their best early records (as matter of fact a significant step back when compared to the band's debut) but still well crafted, played and relevant enough to be featured in this contest. On the other hand we have the legendary Jerusalem, one of Stoner metal's more influential records. I'm more of a OM guy when it come to Cisneros' work but am obliged to concur this thing is massive and give my vote to Sleep.
 
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