Essential Albums: S.O.D. “Speak English Or Die”

I missed most of the punk movement; 1970s era punk, with the Ramones, Clash and Sex Pistols, happened while I was busy watching “Seasame Street” and Saturday morning cartoons … and the ’80′s punks (Dead Kennedy’s, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Milkmen, Descendents, Circle Jerks, etc.) were entertaining at points, but were decidedly hit-and-miss, musically. Most of [...]

Essential albums: Alice In Chains, “Dirt”

Let me start this review by telling you two things: 1) In 1993, Alice In Chains’ “Dirt” was the most important album in the world to me. 2) After 1993, about 12 years passed before I was able to listen to “Dirt” again. I won’t bore you with a bunch of personal history (we’re here [...]

For love of Queensryche

Ever done something you knew was right, but felt guilty about it anyway? Last year, I wrote a rather dismissive review of Queensrÿche’s ”American Soldier.” In short, I said the concept was strong and handled tastefully, but the music was dull and not terribly metal. I look back at that interview now and I still agree [...]

Essential Albums: Probot (S/T)

Nirvana may not have been a strictly “metal” band, but they had a metal sensibility that is impossible to deny. Take “Senseless Apprentice” from the band’s final studio album, “In Utero.” The riffs, drumming and vocal delivery are straight metal. Even the band’s biggest hits, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Heart Shaped Box” were driven [...]

Essential Albums: Nine Inch Nails, “Year Zero”

Today is the first of several “essential album” reviews that might be controversial. Some of my picks might not seem to fit the normal metal mode, might not be considered “metal” enough by some – and one or two might not appear to fit the “metal” category at all. But I’ll argue that each is [...]

Essential Albums #8: Ahab, “The Call of the Wretched Sea”

Today, I’m going to perform a dubious favor to you: I’m going to recommend an album you’ll have to work to find.  I don’t listen to much doom metal, but I have great love for Ahab. Those sea-obsessed German doomsters create music that is both achingly beautiful and so heavy that listening to it feels [...]

Essential Albums #7: Type O Negative “Dead Again”

Update, 4/15/10: Peter Steele died Wednesday of heart failure. For a Noise Pollution remembrance of Steele, go here. Well, one of my favorite bands, Type O Negative, is performing tonight in Cincinnati. But, instead of driving to the show, I’m sitting here at work. How is that fair? But, I’m determined to make the best [...]

Essential Albums #6: Manowar “Into Glory Ride”

Today, I say “hail” to an album that blew me away when I heard it for the first time more than 20 years ago – Manowar’s rough 1983 epic, “Into Glory Ride.” Now wait. Stop rolling your eyes. I know Manowar has done some goofy things before – like posing in loin cloth and leather and [...]

Essential Albums #5: “Destroyer,” by KISS

Today, I’ll likely throw pretty much all my metal cred out the window by confessing my undying love to the greatest KISS album of all time, 1976′s “Destroyer.” Although “Destroyer” is not technically “metal,” the album does contain arguably the heaviest song in KISS’ career, the blazing “God of Thunder.” Meanwhile, hard-rocking tracks like “Detroit [...]

Essential Albums #4: Anthrax, “We’ve Come For You All”

As any Blabbermouth.net reader knows by now, Anthrax has parted ways with vocalist Dan Nelson and the band is in search of a new singer. Nelson either quit or was fired, depending on who you believe (Nelson and guitarist Scott Ian, not surprisingly, give differing accounts of the breakup). Maybe that’s too bad – unless [...]