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

Third matchup is a step backward into the "speed and pain is more metal" sensibility.
I'll take the thrashier sounds of Dark Angel over the melody-free blasts of the competition.
 
Running Wild is full of fun rhythms and great guitar melodies and doesn't take itself too seriously. Good stuff.
Alcest is far more thoughtful and serious, but not in any kind of embarrassing way. It is also very good.
This match is going to take a deeper dive. I'll be back.
 
This Led Zeppelin album has 5 really great songs on it, 1 complete stinker, and 3 mediocre to OK tracks. The King Diamond album is pretty great all the way through. While the best tracks on Conspiracy aren’t as good as the best tracks on Led Zeppelin, we’re comparing full albums here, so consistency wins the day. Winner: King Diamond

This Lacrimosa album is interesting, but it sounds more like German musical theater with electric guitars than anything I would normally call metal. I like the regular use of male and female vocals, though the male vocals are very calm and professorial, which is strange. Meanwhile Coroner delivers a pretty great speed metal album, though the vocals aren’t very good. Pretty easy choice for me, though I’m concerned about putting these guys up against my Luca Turilli album in the next round... Winner: Coroner

Cryptopsy sounds like dog barking with guitar solos. Garbage. Dark Angel wins by default. Winner: Dark Angel

Listening to this Running Wild album is like watching a great B-movie. You’ve seen it done better elsewhere, but it’s got a lot of heart and you can’t help but enjoy it, even if it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure. The spoken word intro is laughably bad, but once things get going it’s a pretty cool slab of Priest-worshipping, not-too-cheesy power metal that’s remarkably consistent. I can’t help but think that Running Wild is the band that Rage only aspires to be. The Alcest album is well crafted and pleasant enough, but I find Running Wild to be more entertaining. Winner: Running Wild
 
And we start with two heavy weights face to face. I really don't think Zepp to be metal but that's not the point. They were considered electable and that's fine for me since this is one of the best bands ever. Nevertheless, from their legendary first six album spree, the band's debut is easily my least favorite. Yes, it still features absolutely amazing tracks such as Communication Breakdown, Dazed And Confused and the absolutely idyllic Black Mountain Side. And while some of these songs already show that these guys would turn this rock thing upside down, the remainder of the songs (despite their value) are still a bit too much blues oriented. Their sophomore would be a reaaaaaaaaaaly different deal... but that's another story. And then we have Conspiracy, my favorite King Diamond album, starting with my favorite music from the band followed by another one of their top tunes, while the remainder of the record is tight as nails with some amazing arrangements in A Visit From The Dead and Cremation. As I mentioned somewhere before this record's ambiance and execution is flawless. So yeah... this one's for the King.

Following we have a no brainer. The 90's were a king sized nursery for bad Goth rock/ Goth metal bands. And while there were things way worst than Lacrimosa, these guys reek of cliche and, adding to their derivative nature, their music always sounded absolutely presumptuous and cheesy at the same time. It's easy to come to the conclusion I really disliked Lacrimosa back in the day. Gave a few spins now and yep... still sounds the same. As for the Swiss technical thrashers I've already gave my 2 cents on how I really dig their sound so it's an obvious vote for Coroner.

Despite their undeniable value as musicians I never got into Crytopsy. Always felt like these guys wanted to show how crafted they were playing as fast as they could while making the most time signature changes possible a track can take. As a result the songs lack stability and coherence. Plus ultra fast Brutal Death Metal was never my thing (still prefer my Bolt Thrower and Entombed when it comes to DM). On The other hand Dark Angel's Darkness Descends is that classic record that I've already voted for every time it contended in this game and this is will be another one.

Finally another two really good records while being absolutely different from each other. Black Stone Inn is yet another fine record from these veterans that created alone a blueprint in piracy meets heavy/ power metal that would be shamelessly copied throughout the years. And in all honesty songs like the title track, Mr. Deadhead or The Privateer are really cool cuts. But then again and although these tunes are truly enjoyable, there's nothing new here and let's be honest: Running Wild already did this kind of compositions in a higher echelon, namely in records such as Death Or Glory, Under Jolly Roger or Port Royal. Alcest on the other hand is always changing shape and always in an elegant way. This was the first embodiment of the band and (as I mentioned before) a real graceful and imaginative one. My vote goes to the Frenchmen.
 
Night Prowler said:
I've sent you a video for each of the albums I've nominated :shred:
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Thanks!

Keep in mind I will change the video if the album is successful. At which point you can send me another or not. I don't expect people to keep up on it and I'm just too busy to solicit.
 
Lampwick 43 said:
Some really good albums next league, including one of my nominations. :)

Also, the first Maiden album will be making its appearance. A little bit surprising that Maiden is coming into the game so soon.
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First 3 records featured on my list are showing up next round and facing up fierce adversaries (none other than Dave Mustaine and the boys, Dark Tranquillity and Possessed)... tough luck.
 
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Just doing my homework for the tiebreaker and giving Crimson Glory a fair crack of the whip by listening to the whole album. Problem is wiki has this track listing:
  1. "Valhalla" – 3:46
  2. "Dragon Lady" – 4:21
  3. "Heart of Steel" – 6:07
  4. "Azrael" – 5:42
  5. "Mayday" – 2:59
  6. "Queen of the Masquerade" – 5:27
  7. "Angels of War" – 5:23
  8. "Lost Reflection" – 4:43
Spotify has 10 tracks and the order is completely different, which track listing is correct?
 
srfc said:
Just doing my homework for the tiebreaker and giving Crimson Glory a fair crack of the whip by listening to the whole album. Problem is wiki has this track listing:
  1. "Valhalla" – 3:46
  2. "Dragon Lady" – 4:21
  3. "Heart of Steel" – 6:07
  4. "Azrael" – 5:42
  5. "Mayday" – 2:59
  6. "Queen of the Masquerade" – 5:27
  7. "Angels of War" – 5:23
  8. "Lost Reflection" – 4:43
Spotify has 10 tracks and the order is completely different, which track listing is correct?
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The 8 songs you listed is the correct one. I know some later versions have 1 bonustrack though.
 
srfc said:
Just doing my homework for the tiebreaker and giving Crimson Glory a fair crack of the whip by listening to the whole album. Problem is wiki has this track listing:
  1. "Valhalla" – 3:46
  2. "Dragon Lady" – 4:21
  3. "Heart of Steel" – 6:07
  4. "Azrael" – 5:42
  5. "Mayday" – 2:59
  6. "Queen of the Masquerade" – 5:27
  7. "Angels of War" – 5:23
  8. "Lost Reflection" – 4:43
Spotify has 10 tracks and the order is completely different, which track listing is correct?
Click to expand...
The original version track list is this indeed.
 
The first match was tough. King Diamond are definitely more metal, but I enjoy listening to Zeppelin more.

This is my first experience with Lacrimosa. I found them to be a little bit more interesting than Coroner, so they're getting the vote.

I hope I can go the rest of my life without ever hearing anything from Cryptopsy again. Dark Angel.

The last match was also a close one for me. Both albums are good for what they are. I'm in more of a Running Wild kind of mood at the moment. This Alecest album, while good, also tends to put me to sleep.
 
I had actually expected Zep to be doing better here. Again, there are many Zep songs I enjoy, but very few full albums, and Led Zeppelin is no exception. Dazed & Confused is a classic, though. King Diamond at least gets my attention throughout the whole album. For reference, Zep is massively influential on the metal genre, and King Diamond has a lot of influence too, just not Zep levels, so this is about the musical content of the albums.

Lacrimosa is fine, it meanders and it's not very interesting. I don't love Coroner but at least my head was bobbing along to it.

I'm surprised Cryptopsy isn't from that terrible Rolling Stone list. They sure seemed to have someone on staff who just adores pure noise without rhythm or melody. It sounds like the singer is actually trying to bark, it's so bad. Dark Angel isn't much better, but it is better.

Running Wild is good fun but I can't say they excite me. I find the quality of the album to be up and down. Alcest continues to be one of my favourite finds from the GMAC so far.
 
1. The only round of any interest. Some good music on the King Diamond album but his high pitch shit is rubbish. Zeppelin win by virtue of havin a slightly less annoying singer.

2. Coroner have somethin goin on. Lacrimosa might be good if it was live at a circus. I wont be goin back to either of these.

3. Jesus. Would I rather get stabbed in the dick or the balls? I'll vote for Dark Angel because the few minutes that I could tolerate seemed to have some kind of 'groove' to it. Its muck but it wins. Zero value in either of these, for me.

4. Running Wild. Simple.
 
The first Zeppelin is kinda trash, with some memorable moments here and there. King Diamond is a joke though, so I'd have to think that one over. Might have to go King Diamond in the end.
 
LooseCannon said:
It's currently 10-2 for Dark Angel over Cryptopsy. I looked at that and thought, "I bet the 2 is @Dityn DJ James and @Magnus." Sure enough, it is.
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Despite being an 80's thrash-head, I just could never get into Dark Angel. Burning of Sodom is alright cut though. None So Vile is a classic Death metal album with an awesome atmosphere. Love the bass on that album too. Slit Your Guts is killer.
 
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