The top heavy metal records of all time
December 3, 1997
Editor’s note: As part of the Daily’s week long series on hardcore music, Arts & Entertainment reporter Ben Jones compiled the following list of his 10 favorite heavy metal records of all time.
10) Guns N’ Roses
“Appetite For Destruction”
Guns N’ Roses managed to put aggressive rock onto the charts and embedded it into the consciousness of America and the rest of the world. Not too bad for a bunch of alcoholics and junkies from L.A.
Songs like “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Paradise City” and “Sweet Child of Mine” became radio hits while “You’re Crazy,” “Night Train” and “Mr. Brownstone” provided enough muscle to satisfy the broodiest headbanger.
9) Alice In Chains
“Dirt”
“Dirt” is dark, raw and mystical while foreboding in a death-wish type of way. This is the group’s penultimate CD — its sonic anguish is likely to take you to the abyss of a heroin induced inferno and abandon you.
“Them Bones,” “Sickman,” “Rooster,” “Dirt,” “Angry Chair” and “Would?” all became radio hits and MTV buzz clips. But it was songs like “Godsmack” and “Junkhead,” both too brutal for commercial success, that really made listeners perk up.
8) White Zombie
“La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1”
White Zombie makes music that is vast and expansive, dark and gritty, violent and artsy. “La Sexorcisto” has all the perverted excitement of a brutal mugging and raping combined with the tweeker atmosphere of New York City.
For proof, go no further than the first track, “Welcome To Planet Motherfucker/Psychoholic Slag.” Then try out hits such as “Thunder Kiss ’65” and “Black Sunshine” and gems such as “I Am Legend” and “Soul-Crusher.” That’s more proof than a bottle of Jack Daniels has, guaranteed.
7) Megadeth
“Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?”
Megadeth has released a lot of great albums but this one is my favorite. “Peace Sells” is full of heavy duty guitar riffs, menacing vocals and political statements. It also has some of the most extensive and intelligent lyrics found in heavy metal and rock-and-roll.
The title track has become a heavy metal anthem, with just reason. “Wake Up Dead” and “The Conjuring” are absolutely astonishing and “Devil’s Island” will gladly make you bang your head.
6) Metallica
“Kill ‘Em All”
Metallica were the Gods of metal, driven by excess and screaming vocals, guitars and bass. Like Megadeth, Metallica has made plenty of great records but its first release is by far the most chaotic and frenetic.
Every song on this CD yields explosive ferociousness and raw power. “Four Horsemen” is infectious, “Seek and Destroy” is classic, “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth” is a testament to bassist Cliff Burton (may he rest in peace) and “Am I Evil?” begs a resounding yes in response.
5) Nirvana
“From The Muddy Banks of the Wishkah”
It’s kind of ironic that the best Nirvana CD wasn’t released until after Kurt Cobain was dead. But in a way, it’s also kind of fitting. Nirvana came to unwillingly personify the angst that our generation was feeling and became apocalyptic heroes of disenfranchisement.
This CD shows just how aggressive the group could be in concert. It also displays the amazing talent that the group possessed. Although the group was often labeled as “grunge,” there is definitely a heavy edge to its music (just check out “Negative Creep,” “Tourette’s” or “School”).
4) Rage Against The Machine
“Rage Against The Machine”
When Rage lead singer Zack de la Rocha screamed, the whole world should shut up and listen. This group’s first release is a mixture of left wing politics and sonic explosions, held together by an always funky rhythm. Sitting through this CD is like drinking ten gallons of kerosene and then inhaling a match.
“Killing In The Name” is a ferocious assault, “Take The Power Back” is bound to incite a revolution someday, “Know Your Enemy” features turbo charged guitar riffs and vocals and “Freedom” is bound to shred any ideas about independence.
3) Ministry
“Psalm 69”
From the opening riffs of “New World Order” to the final crunch of “Grace,” this CD is designed to shake the tiers of heaven and bring its foundation to the ground. “Psalm 69” is easily the best industrial metal CD ever recorded and contains some of the most vicious songs ever saved to compact disc.
“Jesus Built My Hotrod” is one of the many highlights, a rumbling descent into darkness. The title track is enough to drive evil spirits into the Pope’s head and “Just One Fix” is a glorious exercise in anarchy. Play this one really loud and pray you don’t need an exorcism when it’s through.
2) Slayer
“Decade of Aggression”
“Decade of Aggression” presents the group at its finest — absolutely live. The two CD set proves that there is nothing on Earth, short of Armageddon, that can come close to matching Slayer’s passion for anarchy.
Check out songs like “Dead Skin Mask,” “Seasons In The Abyss” and “Angel of Death” for a taste of pure evil. Then check out the “South of Heaven/Raining Blood” double shot. It is guaranteed to make your blood boil.
1) Pantera
“Vulgar Display of Power”
Every track on this CD spits blood and bile in your face, it’s enough to bring tears to your eyes. This is music that makes you want to move one hundred miles down a freeway and collide into an oil tanker.
Just listen to “A New Level” to see what I mean.
Among the many highlights of this CD are “Walk,” which boils over with feeling, “Fucking Hostile,” which is enough to make Mother Theresa rise from the dead and mosh, and “Rise,” which has the sheer power and energy of an atomic bomb. Then check out “By Demons Be Driven.”
This certainly isn’t music to play for Jesus’ resurrection. But man, is it wonderful.
