Decibel (I made a Spotify playlist for it here)
Pitchfork's metal list
Uncut
Paste

NPR's (!) top metal

terrible lists in every way

terrible lists in every way

GOOD CONTRIBUTION

nice, i do appreciate these as it gives me a chance to listen to other music.

You know, as piss poor a job as non-metal (or especially non-music) media outlets usually do when talking about metal, I've consistently been pleased with NPR's occasional metal article or list. It might not always be to my taste, but it's always well-written and interesting.

I think Wick's dissatisfaction, if you guys will allow me to read into it, does point out a tendency for these kinds of list to include only certain types of metal, especially the Serious Business kind. NPR and Pitchfork have no time for Steel Panther. I might not include them on my list either, but you know what I mean.

KoRn's album was #1 in Decibel????????????




...oops wrong 'Path Of Totality'

These lists are indicative of the elitism among some metal fans and journalists. Did your latest album just flat out rock? Too bad, not gonna be on these lists, that's for sure. Did your latest album hit the billboard charts? Scratch it from these lists. Are you playing something traditional like power, thrash, and classic metal? Scratch it off again. Is your band famous or have commercial appeal? Sorry, can't find a spot on these lists for you. Decibel and other webzines, blogs, message boards continue to fall into the vicious spiral of "I'm more metal than you." We're getting to the point where being more metal than the next guy means not being metal at all. The elite, in any aspect of life or society, have always been anti-traditionalist and its no different in the metal media. Out with the old, in with the new seems to be the new status quo despite some great new albums from bands playing less underground, more traditional metal.

Metalsucks is making thiers a series

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I've seen Machine Head's new one pop up on a few "elitist" lists already... what's up with that?

Cheap lulz@the last album in the guy from Nails' list

Also, will these motherfuckers shut the fuck up about Liturgy? They're talking about a blog war that happened six months ago and no one is putting 'Aesthethica' on their lists anyway. It's like they're so desperate for gossip, they'd still rather be writing about metal forum flamers than music. If they thought 'Aesthethica' was musically interesting enough to be touted as a "10 Best" album, then ok, fine. But if it's middling or shitty, who cares? It's just another dude with opinions.

Dyess begs to differ

Angela Gossow put Morbid AngeLOL at the top of her list... no joke

For people like Gassow, who have probably played shows with Morbid Angel and know them personally, it must be weird seeing them drop a turd like that. I know Arch Enemy isn't exactly a paragon for consistent musical excellence, but imagine that friend of yours with the shitty garage band whose music you have to pretend you don't hate was Trey Azagthoth.

does "know them personally" translate to "slept with at least 1/2 of them"? HEYOOOOHHHHH!!!!

The Liturgy and Krallice jocking confuse me because A.) the better albums came out 2 years ago...even compared to the other bands, and B.) Hipster Black Metal is as old as Rebecca Black jokes now.

:giggidy: :giggidy: :giggidy:

Good to see 40 Watt Sun and Deafheaven getting recognition.

I haven't given 40 Watt Sun a proper listen yet, but I guess I am compelled to now. THANKS JERKS!

I always like the musicians' lists.

Also, I hate That Metal Show and fuck them and any list they make.

I watched a few episodes and it was ok, until the episode with Phil Anselmo where they were discussing who would be the fifth band after the Big Four from the Bay Area thrash movement.

There are exactly TWO acceptable answers, one more appropriate than the other, but both acceptable: Exodus and Testament. Phil, of course, says Exodus immediately and emphatically. It's the right answer. One of those metal show morons actually says Overkill........OVERKILL. Not only does he argue for Overkill, but he argues AGAINST Exodus, saying the last few albums weren't that good with "Temple" of the Damned being alright.

I never watched it again.

That metal show are a bunch of old fogies that deny their old foginess. I fucking cant stand anyone on that show other than Eddie Trunk, and there is times where he unbearable too. Florentine and that other guy are fucking douchebags.

I think that Anselmo episode is the one where they were doign a best album cover ever thing and they had soem super shitty album covers, like a Kiss one and some gay duran duran thing or something.

I went to a live taping of that show once, it was agony. I would see all three of those dudes around town all the time and it always made me angry. I hate Jose from Sirius/XM more, though. That guy is the absolute worst.

My lack of ever watching has been a good decision, I guess.

Also, am I the only person who liked the new A Storm of Light? I know some people here categorized it as a disappointment and I don't see it on any of these lists. I'm not saying it will be on mine, but I really enjoy it. It's more accessible than the previous two, but it's still all depressing and heavy and stifling and whatnot.

Honestly i dont think I even listened to the entire thing, it fell flat with me and i just forgot it. Maybe ill revisit it just to get a reminder in why i never finished it.

I don't see it the way you do. To me Testament is the correct answer. Exodus is definitely in the conversion but I also think Overkill is too. You have to keep in mind that Eddie, Jim, and Don are old school and grew up on 80's metal. Although they listen to newer bands they aren't as up to date with current metal trends, which is why you only hear them pushing new super groups with dudes who made it big in the 80s. None of them are heavily into death, black, power, thrash, or any other essentially underground form of metal although Jim and Don have some exceptions. They basically represent the type of metal fan in the 80's: someone who was into the big commercially successful bands (Iron Maiden, Guns N Roses, Van Halen, etc..) along with a handful of lesser known bands. Eddie was a die hard fan in the 80's and knows just about everything to do with that era of metal. It works for the show because its on VH1 Classic and the focus of the show is golden age of metal, nothing current. I don't always agree with them and I get that it can be frustrating listening to three aging dudes debating metal topics without having the perspective of a modern fan but I accept the fact that these guys aren't tr00 and simply represent for the mainstream 80's metal fan.

Those lists are fucking horrible. Unless your an elitist or your name is Mhewz, you will like those lists. I havent even heard some of those bands, and most of them are either overrated or just plain gay. LOL@ Liturgy.

Are you a real person or a fucking cartoon parody of a metal fan?

It's worse, much worse. He's... Canadian.

those lists are basically full of pretension. that's the problem.

MY FAVORITES ARENT ON OTHER PEOPLES LISTS THEYRE PRETENTIOUS ASSHOLES THAT DONT EVEN LIKE WHAT THEY SAY THEY LIKE CAUSE I DONT LIKE THEM AND I THINK THEY ARENT GOOD SO THEY HAVE TO BE GARBAGE TO EVERYONE AND I HATE MUSIC THAT DOESNT GALLOP AND DONT GOT NO BALLADS AND STUFF. FUCKIGN WORDS HOW DO THEY WORK?

Pretty much.

Seriously, enough with "pretentious". The word has lost all fucking meaning at this point.

Exclaim.ca "Top... 18?"


OMG PRETENTIOUS CANADIANS LISTEN TO LITURGY!1!!11


:kvlt:

yeah, but if the excess skin on your face fits.

there are many different types of metal fans but the ones that these websites cater to are the nerdy keyboard warrior types....the guys who think they are, or aspire to be, more intellectual than the next guy. the only way to be that guy is to renounce anything that would appeal to the 'average' metalhead. the problem is, the wannabe intellectual is usually the guy with a high school diploma and a job at starbucks (or maybe even a plumber) and is compensating for his complete fail at life. don't trust that guy. trust the guy who listens to metal cuz he loves it and not because he's trying to fill a void in his pathetic existence.

some of the albums on these lists are actually good. i mean, YOB was a cool album. tombs was decent. i'm not knocking any particular band. its just evident from the totality of these lists that the guys creating said lists have an agenda and that's what makes them suck ass.

Or maybe - and I know this is fucking out there - they actually enjoy these albums the most out of any others that have been released in 2011. By the way, if all these lists 'suck' and appear to be 'the same thing', wouldn't these people become the "average" metalheads?

The degree and job title comment is borderline trolling.

Either way, it's pretty clear who's being The P Word here.

what I got out of all that is that Wick liked the YOB album... which is pretty cool! :headbang:

I don't know guys, those metal lists seem pretty good to me, besides the inclusions of Machine Head.

"Pretentious" stops meaning anything because it applies to you?

Whatever dudes, these lists are obviously pretentious and I think they're made less comprehensive (and therefore less valid) by their exclusion of more accessible or popular acts. HOWEVER, they serve the very valuable service of exposing lesser-known bands. And I am I going to criticize a list for including Ulcerate or YOB? Fuck no, those albums are awesome. If you click on a link that starts with the word "Pitchfork," you know what you're in for. It would be nice if mainstream music magazines were able to comment on more mainstream metal with any level of competence to make up for the underground-focus of these lists, but they're not. Unless it's by Chris Steffen, I'm unlikely to trust a Rolling Stone article on this year's metal.

With that said, I think it's just as dangerous and elitist to dismiss these lists outright just because they're elitist and focus on a certain sphere of bands. You look at these lists for a reason. You don't eat bacon for the calcium content.