The Yearly Metal Project (With a Twist - See inside): 1982

Mosh said:
There are a lot of "proto" metal albums out there, but I wanted to get straight to the "real" stuff
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This is what makes this topic the hardest to participate in for my part because there is so so SO much good stuff in these years! Early 70s are some of the best years for straight up hard rock...and I already feel like we need to include at least 10-15 more albums from 1970....but the "real" stuff that really influenced metal or could be considered proto-metal, now that's hard to decide at times and I don't want to just spam up the thread :p Some albums might have a barn burner that's straight up metal but then the rest of the album is totally mellow ... Some albums are barn burners but too blues inspired..etc
 
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SixesAlltheway said:
This is what makes this topic the hardest to participate in for my part because there is so so SO much good stuff in these years! Early 70s are some of the best years for straight up hard rock...and I already feel like we need to include at least 10-15 more albums from 1970....but the "real" stuff that really influenced metal or could be considered proto-metal, now that's hard to decide at times and I don't want to just spam up the thread :p Some albums might have a barn burner that's straight up metal but then the rest of the album is totally mellow ... Some albums are barn burners but too blues inspired..etc
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Not to mention, I just don't have the time to listen to and analyze 10-15 albums every few days. This thread is going to be an ongoing project for me to keep up with, so don't be shocked if you see my response to 1970 or 1971 in about a month. :D
 
Well to me at the moment, I feel like there is too much focus on the classic albums from the early 70s..the big albums of hard rock that quite surely shaped metal in some way or another..while at the same time..there's so much good stuff in the underground/less known...but are those bands then "the real stuff" or not, I'm confused :D But then again, I don't want to be an ass, if the purpiose of this thread is juts to really only highlight the MAJOR bands and/or turning points it makes sense to only mention the Zeppelins/Coopers etc etc
 
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You are misinterpreting what I said, Sixes. What you quoted was my reasoning for why I started at 1970, doesn't have anything to do with how I select albums. I'm just going off wiki and RYM, so its likely that I miss some because I'm just not aware of them. If there are albums that others think should be on the list, I'll add them. But it's natural that the discussion will be more focused on the famous albums as more people know them.

So go ahead and talk about lesser known stuff, but keep in mind this is a discussion thread. I don't want it to turn into the now playing or death metal thread where it's just a spam of YouTube links.
 
I've never heard of Hawkwind. Hurry On Sundown is an amazing song! Also, that's great that you're checking out Sir Lord Baltimore. They're one quite a few underrated bands from that era. Other bands I recommend are SRC and The Frost.
 
Sir Lord Baltimore really surprised me. The album was eclectic, heavy, and a lot speedier than Sabbath. Definitely ahead of their time with that one.

mckindog said:
What do be people think of Stairway to Heaven?
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I like it. It is overplayed but since I only listen to it when listening to all of IV, it is still special. I really love the layered guitars on the song, as well as the mellotron in the beginning.

IV in general is a landmark for Metal and it doesn't really get enough credit for that. There are a lot of things on the album that aren't recognized quite as much. For example, this is the first album where we hear Zeppelin playing with exotic/classical instruments and styles. This is something that would become a staple in Metal music, particularly in the 90s and beyond. Whenever I hear a mandolin in Metal or an eastern folk influence, I can't help but think that Led Zeppelin IV had a hand in that. I know Opeth has cited them as an influence on specific songs before. A lot of the album has this dark ominous vibe to it, especially Stairway. But there's also Battle of Evermore and Four Sticks with its odd time signatures. The artwork really contributes to that vibe too. Similar flavor to the artwork on the first Black Sabbath. There's a mystic quality to the album that is very characteristic of Metal.
 
Lucifer's Friend is the missing link between Sabbath and Zeppelin IMO. Good band. Check out the song Keep Going from the same album. Very Sabbath esque riffs, with the swagger of Robert Plant.
 
The vocals are a tad off putting on Flower Travellin' Band's Satori but these riffs are undeniable. Listen closely at 0:51, brings to mind South of Heaven by Slayer doesn't it?

 
Forostar said:
I guess I find a bit more in Quo... By the way, from all music I have ever played, Status Quo is the one my wife hates the most. She can't stand it.
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It's funny, because I like Zep and love AC/DC, but I find Quo supremely dull - basically what you say about the other two.
 
Likewise, Quo aren't a band I'm too impressive by, although I have to acknowledge their earlier stuff was better.
 
Checked out most of the stuff from 1971, but haven't had time to comment. Some quick thoughts before moving on:

It didn't take long for the sound of Sabbath to really catch on. Zeppelin, Purple, Alice Cooper, and The Who are all clearly paying attention.

I'm still not a Tull fan. I don't think they'll ever be my thing. I tried Aqualung again which was at best boring and at worst annoying. Even songs I had fonder memories of, such as Locomotive Breath, did nothing for me. Give me Maiden doing Cross Eyed Mary any day though.

Another band that isn't my thing is Alice Cooper. They remind me of Kiss, which makes me think I would've liked them more had I heard them at a younger age. Killer was solid though and had some heavy riffs.

1971 was perhaps a bigger year for prog than it was for Metal. Genesis, Yes, ELP, and Van Der Graaf Generator all had breakthrough albums that year. VDGG in particular is one I really urge people here to check out. Like I said before, big influence on Bruce, and they were heavy. Pawn Hearts has a bit of that prog pomp though, their album Still Life might be a bit more palatable to the metal crowd.

Recommend Lucifer's Friend. Should've been bigger.
 
1972:
Alice Cooper - School's Out
Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
Budgie - Squawk
Blue Oyster Cult - Blue Oyster Cult
Captain Beyond - Captain Beyond
Deep Purple - Machine Head/Made in Japan
Elf - Elf
Hawkwind - Doremi Fasol Latido
Jerusalem - Jerusalem
Lucifer's Friend - Where the Groupies Killed the Blues
The Scorpions - Lonesome Crow
Thin Lizzy - Shades of a Blue Orphanage
Uriah Heep - Demons and Wizards/The Magician's Birthday
Wishbone Ash - Argus

With 1971 we've got another mixed group. Classic albums from Cooper, Sabbath, Purple (two!), and Uriah Heep. Also debut albums from some groups that would go on to big things: Scorpions, Blue Oyster Cult, and the original album from future Metal God DIO with Elf. Elf in particular isn't Metal by any stretch, but to not include it here would still be sacrilege. We also have the first Hawkwind album with Lemmy! Is this where they start to get good?

I'm looking forward to quite a few albums here. I've heard great things about BOC but never heard anything beyond their hits and Agents of Fortune. I've heard strange things about early Scorps but never actually listened to them pre-Lovedrive, definitely interested in that. Demons & Wizards is also one I see on vinyl a lot but never picked up. Lets see if I should be fixing that soon.
 
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Vol. 4 is probably my favourite Sabbath album with Ozzy. It has stoner moments (Supernaut), typical doom moments (Cornucopia, Under the Sun), phenomenal riffs that belong among the best (e.g. main riff Under the Sun) and there's this haunting atmosphere for which Geoff Nichols should get some credit. His keyboards in Changes, Snowblind and Wheels of Confusion (so cool that stuff on the end; it takes long before we're there but it's worth the wait) add a lot of colours. Right now, I see that other people (Sabbath members) are credited for these keys. Maybe that is the case, but I am not sure since it is known he collaborated on several occasions. Anyway, this is an album full of variation and a great ride from beginning til the end.

Argus by Wishbone Ash is quintessiential. Their most famous album, and seen by many as their best. Wonderful guitar playing but also note the bass! Sometime World is my favourite song. That instrumental part starting here blows me away every time.
 
Brainstorm from Hawkwind's Doremi (great title) is a wonderful display of their balance between structure and improvisation. Rock and roll, I suppose.
 
A popular track, but for me somewhat repetitive (even for Hawkwind! ;-) ). Perhaps because it sounds too much like one big jam session. Personally, I'm more into less jammy Hawkwind but more of that in the next years. :)
 
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