Top Of The Heap Double Dose

It's been some time since we did a Top Of The Heap so, since Metal Mark is incredibly busy these days, to make up for the long stretch between articles I've decided to do a Top Of The Heap "Double Dose" article! So, with that said, I have also decided to cover two different styles of metal to make it a little more interesting. We have an American hard rock/heavy metal act (Ratt) and German thrash (Destruction). I have choose my favorite albums by each group and why I think they are the best. Of course these are just my opinions and I'd love to hear what other people think.

Destruction-"Release from Agony" was the third full-length album by this thrash metal band. It was also the first album I ever heard from Destruction. Maybe it was because of that fact that the album has always been a favorite of mind. I first came across Destruction's tape in a small store a town or two over from us. It was a rather unique store (meaning it didn't last long sadly) that sold heavy metal/thrash metal tapes, concert shirts, magazines and rented videos. If memory serves me correct it also had merchandise for the skating crowd. How I loved this cool little store. I first found out about Destruction and the Cro-Mags from it. I remember that I bought this tape and really wanted to take home the shirt that went with this album. Somehow I knew there was no way my parents would go for a shirt like that so I just bought the tape. This full-length album, released in 1988, was the first Destruction release to feature four members. When I first heard Marcel 'Schmier' Schirmer on album opener "Beyond Eternity" I was hooked. Of the big German three Destruction were always my favorite. "Release from Agony" is probably my favorite song ever by the band, but I also dig "Unconscious Ruins". The whole album spoke to the inner rage, frustration, confusion and depression I felt as a teenager. While I ended up with plenty of other Destruction album's, both on tape and LP, this album ended up being the one I always came back to because it just hit all the right notes.

Ratt-We go from heavy German thrash to one of the top hard rock/heavy metal bands of the early eighties. Sure, technically the self-titled "Ratt" EP was the band's first release, but this album, released in 1984, was again the first Ratt album I ever heard/bought and the album that made Ratt huge. Start to finish, top to bottom, there is not one bad track on this album. "Wanted Man" and "Round and Round" are classics. I remember hearing these two numbers over and over again at Geauga Lake Amusement Park in Aurora, Ohio. As a teenager spending my summer's at the local amusement park meant everything. These guys were the soundtrack to many teenage adventures. Whether you call it hard rock, hair metal or regular heavy metal this album has hooks that kill. With it's sweet licks, pounding beats and lyrics that were almost entirely about woman (Man, it certainly wasn't deep subject matter, but it worked for them!) Ratt was the "it" band for me for sometime back in my youth. It is amazing (And sad now that we see him a shell of his former self) how well Stephen Pearcy took control of the mic. While he oozed sexual charm for the ladies it was his take-charge, be anything you want to be attitude that hit home with young guys. Leading Ratt as he did he was able to get your blood pumping and make you want to throw all your inhibitions out the widow. This album made me a Ratt fan and I'll tell you what, I wore out more copies of this on tape (as well as the follow-up!) then I can count! Even though it might have lost a little of it's charm with age (Those one time cool lyrics now seem rather one-dimensional to me as a 39 year old), it is still a great hard rock/heavy metal album. Killer cuts like "You're In Trouble", "Lack of Communication" and "Back for More" are what make bands like Ratt so appealing in the first place because they stayed in your head long after the songs ended. Most bands would kill to have an album like this. It's kind of funny, but even though they were considered part of that same scene that brought us bands like Mötley Crüe and Poison I always felt like their influences ran a little deeper than most. For example take the track "The Morning After". It is one of those numbers where you can hear the subtle influence bands like Judas Priest had on their sound. This is especially evident in the dual leads. Even cuts like "I'm Insane" and "Scene of the Crime" are classic heavy metal at their core. These numbers might have disguised as west coast sleaze, but they had a very distinctive heavy metal style about them. While their follow-up is another album I really like I do admit that they became more interested in hair metal as they went along. It didn't stop me from enjoying their other albums, but in many ways I wish they would have kept going with the sound and style of "Out Of The Cellar". It's just a great album from a great band.


What is your favorite album by Ratt and/or Destruction?

Top of the heap-Saxon

Andy Says-

Released only a few months after the classic "Wheels of Steel" the band's third studio album is my personal favorite by these NWOBHM legends. Seeing as we have covered this classic British act more than a few times already (be sure to check out our NWOBHM WEDNESDAY feature on the band) I won't spend too much time of the band's history. Needless to say along with Iron Maiden these guys are NWOBHM and the reason the movement had a lasting impact on future bands. Now, as is "Strong Arm Of The Law" sits right next to "Wheels of Steel" as a classic album and you can't go wrong with either release. Frankly the band's first four albums are all killer and the reason I got into the genre to begin with. The same friend that turned me onto Picture was kind enough to make me mix tape after mix tape of their songs and as I grew in knowledge of the band I grew in respect for just how amazing and timeless their music remains. With that out of the way let us take a look at album number three. It is a release many claim to be their personal favorite by Saxon and judging by the track list one can easily see why. I love the title track and along with "Heavy Metal Thunder" it is my personal favorite cut."Dallas 1 PM" was written about the assassination of John F. Kennedy and showed that the band was capable of composing material that was both heart felt and hard rocking. "20,000 Ft." is another number that is considered a classic and as a whole this album is just top-notch. How can you go wrong with an album that covers everything from rocking out to the assassination of President Kennedy?




Metal Mark says-

This is a tough choice. There were three real contenders for this honor. Those being Wheels of steel, Strong arm of the law and Denim and leather. They all have a fairly similar in style. Each one has some rockers, some slower one and some faster songs. Ultimately there's always been something about this album that is just a little better than the other two. There is plenty to offer here from the powerful "Princess of the night" to the driving "And the bands played on" to the fist pumping title track. I think the first Saxon album I heard was Crusader when it came out and I wasn't crazy about it even though I had heard so much about Saxon. Yet eventually I figured it was their earlier albums that got so much praise so around 1986 I went back to discover their earlier albums because what they were doing in the mid1980's was certainly not impressive. I heard Wheels of steel and Strong arm of the law and I found out what all the fuss was about. For whatever reason none of the stores I went to had Denim and Leather so I didn't hear it them. It probably wasn't until about 1989 that I found a used copy of it on cassette at a time when I was well into thrash and stuff like NWOBHM  was a distant memory in my metal education. However the cassette was like fifty cents and was using my walkmen a lot back then so I picked it up. I ended up wearing it out got a new copy maybe a year later. It became my favorite album then and has been so from that point on.

***What is your favorite Saxon album?

Top Of The Heap: Alice Cooper

Andy Says-

Of all the albums I could choose by dear Alice I come walking away with "Trash" you say to yourself? Especially with obvious choices like "Welcome To My Nightmare" out there? I'm not saying for one minute that Alice Cooper isn't a legend based solely on his work in the 70s. The hits are all there and then some. I could spend this whole bit just naming them all off and trust me when I say I love them all. So, what's the story then? Well, back in the day when glam and hard rock were busy tap dancing with pop metal the world needed someone to show them how to do it right. In 1989 I was feed up with sleaze and all the hairspray that went with it. Like many I felt as if the scene had imploded. Also, like many I had put our dear friend Alice out of my mind. Sure I heard the hits on FM radio and sang along. But for me Alice was old and tired. His day had past. "Trash" though proved if you want something done right you have to do it yourself. Alice took hard rock/glam/pop metal and gave it the boost it needed. He kicked it in it's sorry teeth and said "hey kiddos this is how you do it!". From the time I heard "Poison" onward I knew this was the comeback album Alice needed. With Desmond Child producing and writing alongside Alice the end result was an album that people either love or hate. Not everyone gets into this album and I honestly get that. Whatever it is that pulls me toward it remains a mystery as at it's heart this is pretty much just Alice Cooper fronting some random Hollywood glitter band. It is unashamedly pop metal and even if I do loathe that term/genre I just love this album. Muscle bound guitarist Kane Roberts (who played on Alice Cooper's two album's "Constrictor" and "Raise Your Fist and Yell") may have only received credit for his solo on "Bed Of Nails" but let's face it he co-wrote the album's music if only for the fact that he brought his love of heavy metal along to share with Alice. His touch is all over this album since he did play in Alice Cooper's band up until 1988. Between Robert's bare bone affection for heavy metal and Desmond Child's magical touch this album was gold from the get-go. With guests like Jon Bon Jovi, the late great Stiv Bators, Steven Tyler, Guy Mann-Dude, Joe Perry, Richie Sambora, Tom Hamilton, Hugh McDonald, Michael Anthony and Joey Kramer on board "Trash" proves to be a hard rock album full of great tunes. Besides the hit "Poison" you have great cuts like "Bed of Nails", "House of Fire", "Only My Heart Talkin'", "I'm Your Gun" and "Hell Is Living Without You". Since Alice teamed up with Desmond Child as well as songwriters like Joan Jett, Diane Warren, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora you get an album that while technically pop metal is quite varied. The outside contributions were what made this album for me and frankly (as odd as this might sound) it made me fall in love with Cooper's music all over again. It also made me realize that you can't count Alice out ever.


Metal Mark says-

The first Alice Cooper I ever heard was either his Greatest Hits or 1986's Constrictor. I don't remember which it was, but I know I heard both around the same time in 1986. Anyways I took to early 70's Alice Cooper right away. I listened to his 80's and beyond material as they came out, but those albums never touched upon the outrageous style that he and his original band perfected. The first two albums were okay, but I think they really hit their stride between 1971 and 1974 and any of those albums from that period could be Alice's top work, but for me I'll always go with Love it to death. To me this album is the ultimate combination of the strangeness, dark humor and odd pacing that defined this period of Alice's career. "Caught in a dream" starts the album off with a slight upbeat swing, but it's never normal and it is a storng opener. Then we get radio staple "I'm eighteen" which is a timeless track that anyone of any age. The bouncing chrage of "Long way to go" quickly comes on and rips the listener along for a wild ride. "Black juju" is a dark, odd track that will have your attention the whol way through. "Is it my body" is a punchy track that is surprisingly catchy. "Hallowed by my name" is another very off beat song that the band really excels at. "Second Coming" keeps the strangeness as it leads on the classic "Ballad of Dwight Frye" which is one of my favorite Alice songs of all time. The album ends as it began with a slightly upbeat number in the form "Sun arise". The results are that this a true classic and not just my favorite Alice Cooper album, but one of my favorite albums of all time.



***What is your favorite Alice Cooper album?

Top Of the Heap: Scorpions

Andy says-

Its mind boggling to think that the Scorpions were formed back in 1965. When you consider that fact and that they also didn't start out as a heavy metal band then the transformation that took place over the course of six albums is amazing. "Lovedrive" was released in 1979 and proved to be the start of the group's transformation into more of a radio-friendly style of heavy metal. With Uli Jon Roth quiting the group UFO's Michael Schenker returned to the fold for what would prove to be the band's most metallic offering. The disc kicks off with the stomper "Loving You Sunday Morning" followed by the cut "Another Piece of Meat". Both of these tracks are pure 70's heavy metal and classic Scorpion tunes. I love the title track as well. It sounds like something UFO would write even though it wasn't written by Michael Schenker. Speaking of UFO the instrumental "Coast to Coast" is another song that sounds remarkably similar to Schenker's earlier band. Changing gears somewhat "Is There Anybody There?" is a song that doesn't get enough airplay even though it stands well on its own. Yes it is a tad odd structure wise and yet I love the song regardless. The fantastic "I Can't Get Enough" is a song I can't get enough of and I even dig the song "Holiday". Sure it is a ballad and more or less started the trend of having all of these slow songs on their albums. But it is what it is and frankly it is a damn fine ballad. I can't forget about "Always Somewhere". This is another tune that few Scorpion fans know of and yet the arrangement is top notch. All in all "Lovedrive" is just a killer hard rock album and one of the band's most consistent LPs.



Metal Mark says-


This is a tough choice. I would say that anything between "Virgin Killer" and "Love at first sting" would be a good choice for their best album as I think that was their real prime. I go back and forth between "Lovedrive" and "Blackout", but usually it's the latter. I was first introduced to the Scorps via the radio around 83-84 as they were frequently played on my local channel and I actually I think they still are. No surprise there because alongs with the likes of Motorhead I would say that the Scorps are on of if not the most consistant metal bands of all time. There is a certain formula to their music although to the extent of say AC/DC. There sound has changed some depending on what guitarist was teamed up with Rudy Schenker at the time. However for me "Blackout" is the ultimate combination of heavy rockers, steady stompers and solid slow tracks. These guys were always ahead of the curve in many ways. One example of that is while I may cringe when many hard rock/metal bands did a ballad, that normally didn't happen with this band. Even most of their ballads were cool because they were talented enough to know that slow song could still be tough if you didn't wrap it in silly sappy nonsense. Now I feel the need to pull out some of these albums again and give them the playing time that they deserve.





***What is your favorite Scorpions album?

Top Of The Heap: AC/DC

Andy says-


I know that I have mentioned this numerous times in the past but the first album I ever bought was AC/DC's "Who Made Who". Prior to that though I was aware of the band and their stardom. My older brother had "Highway To Hell" on tape and I can remember more than a few times when he played this as loud as possible to get under my parents skin. Back in the day many parents placed AC/DC high at the top of their list of satanic rock and roll acts so it is funny these days to see AC/DC's logo on toddler clothing. How far we have come! While "Who Made Who" would be the first tape I ever bought by AC/DC it wouldn't be the last as my obsession with the group only grew with time. The more parents and authority lashed out against these Aussie rockers the more I was drawn in. Soon enough I had most of their music on tape and eventually LPs. For many people it is a toss up between "Highway To Hell" and "Back In Black" for AC/DC's top album. I don't plan to dive too deeply into said argument as honestly they are my two favorite albums. That said "Highway To Hell" has always been an album I turn back to time and time. Maybe it has something to do with how overplayed "Back In Black" is but this, their sixth studio album and last with Bon Scott is just perfect hard rock for me. Sadly Bon Scott would pass away after this album only for Brian Johnson to join the band right as they exploded. As the band was always blues-based there is a raw energy to be found here. In a way too I have always seen this album as Bon's way of showing the punks that he was still the top dog despite the change brought on by groups like the Sex Pistols. Bon's swagger and strut on "Highway To Hell" put Mick Jagger to shame. From the album opener which chronicles life in a rock and roll band and all of it's vices (a popular subject for AC/DC) Bon Scott and the Young brothers grab you by the balls and squeeze as hard as they can. This was the sound of bar room rock and roll. It was sweaty and filled with enough sexual tension to knock down the building! Sure the album's title number might not have spelled out what was on AC/DC's mind but the rest of side A left no doubt! . "Girls Got Rhythm", "Walk All Over You", "Touch Too Much" and "Beating Around the Bush" all find Bon Scott on the prowl with Angus right there by his side ready to pick up the scraps! The flip side of the record opens with the classic "Shot Down in Flames". Bon and company lay it out there and let us know that they have been given the old brush off as well. I've always liked the little rocker "Get It Hot" while "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" might just be my favorite AC/DC number of all time! That drum opening from Phil Rudd is classic and when the rest of the track comes rolling in it hits you hard and fast. The band keeps ladies on their mind with "Love Hungry Man" a track that has grown on me over time. Now as far as "Night Prowler" goes and the controversy surrounding it thanks to Richard Ramírez too much ink has been spilled on that one already. No song alone is going to turn a person into a serial killer. If someone is going to kill people I firmly believe that is already in their DNA and that they were born with some screws missing. Show me someone who was a serial killer and listened to heavy metal and I'll show you someone who went to church and was supposed to be normal and killed people tons of people (I'm looking at you Mr. BTK!). Music, video games, movies, books, etc. do not drive otherwise normal people to kill. The fact that we live in a fallen world leads people to kill. But, that is another article for another time. I love how the band choose to wrap up the album. With the final words spoken by Scott, "Shazbot, na-nu na-nu", I always get a little smile thinking about watching "Mork And Mindy" as a kid. To me it just shows how much of a goof Scott was and that he left this world way too young. "Highway To Hell" is a genre classic. It is hard rocking, catchy and full of raw energy just like Bon Scott was. He left us at the top of his game.



Metal Mark says-

I love Bon Scott-era AC/DC and consider most of the Brian Johnson-era material to be forgettable. Glad I got that out of the way. To me all of the early albums are either very good or great and it is tough to choose a best album. I think it boils down to Let there be rock and Powerage and I'll go with Powerage by a hair. One of the first albums I heard by AC/DC and certainly one where I like every song. Still to this day it's an album I could listen at any time from start to finish. To me it represents the raw power of the early days of the band, but it's right before they began to polish off their rough edges. It's not their most known album due to the lack of songs that get played on the radio a lot, but it's certainly their most consistant album and to me the one that defines all that was great about this band in their early days. "Down payment blues" and "Up to my neck in you" are prime examples of the kind of odd yet humorous lyrics that this band could easily pull off. "Gimme a bullet", "Gone shootin" and "What's next to moon" demonstrated the band's ability to control the pace and get as much as they could out out of every beat and note. "Kicked in the teeth" and "Riff raff" are both tracks that get the blood pumpin' with their heavy, churning grooves. "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" and
"Sin City" are probably the two best songs out of this great batch with just great attention to details and every band member pulling his weight. To me this is this the most solid album from this band. It's a shame that Scott died because thet were very tight. However after Scott was gone Johnson just didn't have the voice or the presence to ever replace Scott and really no one could replace him. The downfall of AC/DC wasn't all on Johnson's shoulders either. The Young brothers writing became more predictable in the 1980's and formula became the name of the game for AC/DC even through today. They would never be the same without Bon Scott, not even close. The have have been a mere shell of what they once were. However at least Scott left some great records to remember him by.

***What's your favorite AC/DC album?

Top of the Heap: Iron Maiden

Andy says-

As I suspect that Metal Mark will ch
oose Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast" as his entry in this series I have decided to play devil's advocate and choose "Killers" as my top serving. The second album for Iron Maiden is nowhere near as heavy or raw as their debut and yet it still retains some of the almost punk edge that made these NWOBHM masters such a driving force. Vocalist Paul Di'Anno was sent packing after this release and his replacement would of course prove to me more than capable. True as it is that "Number..." is a shinning example of heavy metal in it's prime this album showcases Paul's ability behind the mic proving that he was no slouch either. I won't argue who is better because Bruce would win that contest with little effort. But for Paul and the band "Killers" is a album that deserves special appreciation for the impact it had in the day and still has. As I stated it is not as raw or heavy as their debut and yet it still has a thunderous appeal to it that cannot be overlook. With veteran producer Martin Birch on board and new guitarist Adrian Smith the band went on to produce their next masterpiece album in their short career. The song "Wrathchild" is a defining heavy metal number. It is a timeless heavy metal song still played to this day on the radio and in concert by not only Iron Maiden but in countless cover versions. Also featuring two instrumental numbers in "The Ides of March" and "Genghis Khan" (as well as the epic "Murders in the Rue Morgue") the album is an early example of how heavy metal suddenly became a classic genre. This album (along with it's followup) would put Iron Maiden into the same category as Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and AC/DC as forefathers of the hard rock/heavy metal movement. While not as popular as it's follow-up album "Killers" remains one of Iron Maiden's top moments and is a favorite of mine.

Metal Mark says-

If you hadn't heard me say it before or couldn't guess it from the top of my blog well then I'll say it now-Iron Maiden are my favorite band of all time. There are plenty of great metal bands and there's Maiden-the best of the best. Now choosing a best album from them isn't easy. I think their first seven plus "Dance of death" and "A matter of life and death" are all great. When I narrow it down to finding the best from that group I would A matter of life and death at three, Killers at two and The number of the beast at number one. No albums is perfect, but "The Number of the beast" comes pretty damn close. We've all heard the mesmerzing title track, the instantly likable "Run to the hills", the haunting "Hallowed by thy name" many times over. The surging "Children of the damned" gets a great deal of recognition too. The other songs don't alwasys get as much rcognition but they deserve it. "22 Acacia Avenue" is a prime example of the band's strong songwriting skills. "The Prisoner" demonstrates their mastery of controlling the pace. "Invaders" and "Gangland" are frequently overlooked, but both are powerful in your face kind of tracks plus Maiden didn't do this kind of song a whole after this album unfortuately. The Dianno albums were great and Killers marked the band's first huge leap in songwriting. However bringing Bruce in to front the band made a huge difference and allowed the band to reach out and do songs they could not have attempted with Dianno. This isn't just my favorite Maiden album, but rather my favorite album of all time.

***What is your favorite Iron Maiden album?

Top Of The Heap: Kiss

Andy's pick-

Casablanca
1974



Andy Says-
Formed out of the ashes of rock band Wicked Lester (of which Kiss co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were members of) New York City's Kiss made their debut in 1973. While Wicked Lester had recorded one album by all accounts they were considered a flop. Kiss however would go on to become one of the most popular American hard rock bands of all time. My first exposure to Kiss came by way of their third hits album (only the second one to be released here in the States though) Smashes, Thrashes & Hits. I was familiar enough with their radio hits of course, but where I was living at the time their were few places to buy albums. I would end up wearing that tape out and eventually I went about collecting their back catalog. Even though I consider myself only a casual Kiss fan still over the years I have amassed quite the catalog of Kiss LPs, tapes and CDs. Over time the tapes and CDs moved on but I have kept the LPs. Having listened to most (if not all) of their albums my favorite one remains their 1974 self-titled debut. One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about the recording is the raw production it has. Before Kiss became over-produced and far too slick they had a rough edge to them and it just works on so many levels. Musically this album can be seen as a logical step for Kiss as they had evolved out of Wicked Lester. Like Wicked Lest this album owes a lot to 60's acts like The Beatles. While it is a heavy metal album it has the same sort of rock and roll vibe that made acts like The Beatles stand out. The songwriting owes more to Lennon and McCartney than it does bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. That is not to say that this album isn't heavy. It is and then some. Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley created an album that is almost perfect hard rock. Other than the awful "Kissin' Time" (which was not included on the original release) this self-titled album is just hit after hit. Of course everyone knows "Cold Gin". But what about killer tracks like "Strutter", "Deuce", "Firehouse" and "Black Diamond"? Each of these cuts have their own appeal and are all prime examples of what made early Kiss so epic. While I enjoy most of their music from the 70s after that they became hit and miss. This album to me is like a hidden gem in that most people don't seem to be able to see the beauty in it's primitive sound.

Metal Mark's pick-

I generally prefer the earlier days of KISS although my second favorite album is 1982's Creatures of the night. However my favorite album from them has always been Dressed to kill. To me this album is their most consistant and catches them when they still had some raw energy left. You get some kickers in "Room service", "Getaway" and "Lover her all I can". Then you have some solid but still cool rockers in "Two Timer", "Ladies in waiting" and "Anything for my baby". I have always thought that "Lover her all I can" is an overlooked track. "She" is a good example of how KISS could milk a lot from a little to make a song work. Sure, "Rock and roll all night" has been played to death over theyears, but it's still a fantastic anthem. To me the best songs here are "Rock bottom" and the absolutely fantastic "C'mon and love me". Yes, KISS were pure cheese from the beginning of their career, but their is room for fluff too if it's done right. KISS will never be accused of being the greatest musicians or writers around. However they could get some good tunes going and they knew how to sell them too. KISS always looked exciting in their make-up in the 70's and for most of that decade they sounded excited about what they were doing even if their was no real point to it except to make fun music.


***What's your favorite KISS album?

Top of the heap-Metallica

Andy says-

For this week's Top Of The Heap Mark suggested we go with Metallica. Now I have been very vocal here, there and everywhere with how sorry this band has become and could easily use this column as another opportunity to further state that opinion. Fear not though as this one is all about their best work. With that in mind this was really only a three album contest for me. Metallica's first three albums are near masterpieces to these ears. I love all of them although Kill 'Em All is the one that I listen to more than the others. So, with that logic would dictate it is their best album right? If only it was that simple and with me things are never simple. Released in 1986 Master Of Puppets would be the last album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who sadly died in a bus accident while touring to promote the album. Since there are likely millions of reviews for this album (and considering just how influential it would be on future bands) I don't feel the need to dissect the album track by track. Simply put every track is simply stunning, crafted in such a way that the album would forever change heavy metal's landscape. This album for me is reserved for moments when I can be alone to truly absorb it's technical wizardry and beautiful take on brutal thrash. I look at it like I look at Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi. Truly each movie is a classic and Star Wars always seems to be the one movie I see most often. Yet with that Empire is still my favorite. Such is the case with Metallica's early works as well then. As a metal community we have all likely at one time or another discussed what would have happened to the band if Cliff Burton hadn't died before his time. What would the band be like today? With Cliff's wide range of tastes (he was into everything from The Misfits to classical music after all) it does seem likely that Metallica could have still developed a more commercial sound. We don't know for sure, but they were evolving album to album and they could still have pulled the rug out from under die hard fans and surprised everyone. I tend to think though it would have been better arranged and that albums like the awful St. Anger wouldn't have happened. It is what it is though and with that in mind for me at least Master Of Puppets was Metallica's peak. One could argue that it is the best heavy metal album of all time. Without radio play the album reached #29 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. That in itself is pretty amazing but consider the fact that it would be the band's first gold record for sales of over 500,000 copies in a time when pop rock still ruled the dial. It has gone on to be become one of the band's most covered albums and even saw Kerrang! magazine offering a track by track tribute album in 2006 to celebrate the album's 20th anniversary. Now off hand other than AC/DC I know of few heavy metal bands who have gotten that kind of royal treatment. In fact to get something like that just shows such appreciation for the impact the album has had. Despite future missteps the praise is warranted.



Metal Mark says-
Remember back when Metallica were considered the cutting edge of metal? Yes that does seem like a long time ago and indeed it is. In 1988 And justice for all marked the end of Metallica's string of fantastic releases. Before that they were leaders in the scene. "Kill 'em all" was one of the best early thrash albums of it's time. Then the band obviously spent a lot more time practicing and probably took some lessons because the next two albums showed a huge improvement in their playing and their writing. They took chances, stretched the songs out and added in some slower parts. All of that lead to that lead to them being a great band at least for a few years. I have always thought that "Ride the lightning" and "Master of puppets" were very similar in style. You could even draw lines between songs from each album as to which song has a counterpart on the other album. Yet for me "Ride the lightning" is a little better and stand's as Metallica's finest hour. "Fight fire with fire" was the first Metallica song I ever heard. It was a local radio show called Friday night metal that was on in 1985. I was floored by "Fight fire with fire". Before that the heaviest stuff I had heard was like Maiden and Priest. That same radio show also played "For whom the bell tolls", "Fade to black" and "Trapped under ice" during that summer. So I had heard half the album that summer and would hear the rest of the album a few months later when I bought it. Each song on the album had it's personality. Unlike "Kill 'em all" it wasn't about speed and force although tracks like the title track, "Fight with fire" and "Creeping Death" all deliver on that level. Metallica were quickly defining themselves as a band who could mix thrash bits with heavy pounding parts and slower bits and still have it come out sounding almost perfect. I wore this one out cassette before the end of the 80's and it's still the album of theirs that I listen to the most.

***What is your favorite Metallica album?

TOP OF THE HEAP: OZZY OSBOURNE

Andy says-

You shouldn't need us to introduce you to the man they call Ozzy. Any good student of heavy metal history should know the name and his association with the band Black Sabbath. As the "Godfather Of Heavy Metal" Ozzy has carved out quite a career as a musician and reality TV star. Before he was known for yelling "Sharon!" though he was actually quite the hell raiser. His battles with drugs and alcohol had lead to his departure from Black Sabbath and on his debut solo album those demons are front and center. Blizzard Of Ozz had been planned as a solo outing while he was still in Black Sabbath but by the time it was fully realized Ozzy was on a one way path to true stardom. Released on September 20, 1980 in the UK and on March 27, 1981 in the U.S. Blizzard Of Ozz would go on to be arguably one of Ozzy Osbourne's best and most controversial albums. It would reach #21 on the Billboard 200 chart and go on to be one of the top 100 best-selling records of the eighties. It is also his best selling album to date. More important though was the fact that it was the first real glimpse that people would get of a young guitarist named Randy Rhoads. Having previously played with Quiet Riot this album would make Rhoads a legend. With lyrics provided by various band members (including bass player Bob Daisy) and music that started with Black Sabbath but ended with Grade A hard rock this album is a heavy metal goldmine. Starting with "I Don't Know" you knew this one was going to be something truly remarkable. The album has this hypnotic hold on you from the start. "Crazy Train" has been covered by more garage bands that you can imagine. The song is a rock and roll damnation number. It was Ozzy's version of "Highway To Hell" and it struck a nerve with kids then and now. "Goodbye To Romance" is a number that still haunts. Like a love song from death to death it catches you in it's cold embrace. "Dee" is short and sweet. Now for those two numbers that have managed to be so controversial even after all these years. "Suicide Solution" has been criticized and analyzed a billion times over. Those on the far right said it promoted suicide while those on the far left said it was a song about substance abuse. Ozzy says it was about Bon Scott while Bob Daisey says it was about Ozzy. Either way you slice it the song describes a slow descent into hell and like "Crazy Train" reads deeper than the cover suggests. "Mr. Crowley" features some of the most recognizable music in all of heavy metal. Inspired by books that he had read about Aleister Crowley (as well as a deck of tarot cards supposedly found in the studio) Ozzy Osbourne wrote the song that would help land him on the list of "devil music" and cement his place as a bad boy of rock n' roll. It should be mentioned that the second guitar solo in "Mr Crowley" is ranked number 28 on Guitar World Magazine's poll of the "100 greatest guitar solos" and number 34 on Planet Rock's list of the 50 greatest guitar solos. Played by Randy Rhoads it is also ranked number 1 Greatest Metal Guitar solo on DigitalDreamDoor.com. Don Airey plays the distinctive organ introduction at the beginning of "Mr.Crowley" which is both classical and down right spooky!"No Bone Movies" is a steady rock number and "Revelation (Mother Earth)" has remained a favorite as well. "Steal Away (The Night)" closed off this perfect piece of rock history proving that their was life for Ozzy Osbourne post-Black Sabbath. Now I used to have this one on LP and gave it away to a friend. That was back int the day when cassettes were still around (CDs were not really the only way to go like right now) and for whatever reason I never replaced my copy. I figured sooner or later I would pick it up on CD myself. How was I supposed to know that Blizzard of Ozz would be re-released in 2002 with the original bass and drum tracks (recorded by Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake respectively) removed and replaced by new recordings by Robert Trujillo and Mike Bordin? In a move that would shock and frankly piss-off fans (including me!) this album was cut up and patched back together with new parts. With the original CD release fetching big bucks I had missed my chance. Supposedly the new releases will have the bass and drums tracks restored to their proper place. I hope so. This album is a classic! Could you imagine taking any other classic heavy metal record and re-recording only certain parts and then releasing it? I couldn't and still don't understand: A)Who came up with this stupid idea? and B)Who would buy this crap? Blizzard Of Ozz is an album that stands out front showcasing just how hard rock and heavy metal can be both brutal and beautiful. Simply the best thing Ozzy has ever done. Why mess with such success?




Metal Mark says-

Remember when Ozzy was right up there with Maiden and Priest as the best solid metal bands aroudn? Yes, that was a long time ago indeed as it's been two decades since Ozzy release a good album. Without a doubt his best two solo albums where the first two. Blizzard of Ozz opened up the doors indeed with a kind of life that Ozzy hadn't showed in some time. His backing bacn was stellar for sure. However there is no doubt in my mind that the sophomore album was even better. "Diary of a madman" is a haunting powerhouse of an album with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads at their best. I remember spending many a time listening to this one vinyl over and over in the basement when I was teenager. "Over the mountain" and "Flying high again" were staples of Ozzy's peak and probably the most known tracks on this album, but the rest of the album is full of plenty of gems. "You can't kill rock and roll" just fits so well with Ozzy's attitude at the time. Very few artists can do a song with "rock and roll" in the title and not sound cheesy, but he pulls it off. "Believer" is another powerful track that sometimes gets overlooked. "Little dolls" is another classic with Ozzy's vocals fitting perfectly and some great riffs from Rhoads. "Tonight" glides on some killer melodies. The last two tracks "S.A.T.O" and the title track are possibly my two favorites on this album as both benefit from spectacular writing. It's a shame Rhoads died so young because I think that this album showed some definite progress from the debut. Ozzy never did an album after this that came close to this level of excellence. I never tire of this album and it is definitely one that needs to be listened to in it's entirety to really enjoy all that went into this fantastic classic.


***What is your favorite Ozzy album?

Top of the Heap-Motley Crue

Andy says-

If there is one album by Motley Crue that could best be called (or rather described) as traditional heavy metal it is Shout At The Devil. Released in 1983 the album showed a move away from the more punk rock leanings of Too Fast For Love towards the more popular style of eighties heavy metal. I'll argue the fact that Motley Crue were genre jumpers at another time. While there are moments on all of Motley Crue's album (up until Dr.Feelgood) that I really like I think Shout At The Devil is the strongest release by them. Get past the fact that the band were playing shock for shock values sake (it worked to their credit-negative press works wonders for albums sales) Shout offers some great metal moments. The almighty title track is a heavy metal classic. It starts the album off with a bang and goes off the richter scale of evil (or as evil as the early eighties metal scene would get). "Looks That Kill" might be one of the best songs that Motley Crue ever put down on vinyl. Mick Mars (who for whatever reason was always overshadowed by his three band mates) is just great on this track. His solo work is one of a kind and he is a criminally underrated guitarist. On "Bastard" his riffs are just a punch in the stomach. Sure Vince Neil has his own voice and made Motley Crue work it just amazes me that Mars never got the credit he deserves. Everyone knows "Helter Skelter" by now and the chance they took on covering a Beatles classic. How they got it too work so well I'll never know. It is a twisted take on the song, very distorted and ugly. Yet they pull it off. Their fastest song of all time, "Red Hot", showed a nod towards old school Judas Priest. Tommy Lee deserves a nod for his work on this killer track. I would have loved to have seen the band's sound go in that direction instead of the more glam and blues they opted for. "Too Young To Fall In Love" is another classic Motley Crue moment. It's touch of sleaze makes the song a real rocker. "Knock 'Em Dead, Kid" showcases Motley Crue at it's angriest. "Ten Seconds To Love" seems leftover from the group's debut. The chorus riff to "Danger" is timeless metal. The number shows off more of the anger and dark lifestyle Motley Crue was living in. The band sudden fame brought not only fast cars and women but drugs and alcohol. It was their lifestyle and all the debauchery that crafted these metal numbers. You can hear the nods to not only the punk movement and British glam movement but also heavy metal legends like AC/DC, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. While the group would carry on releasing solid heavy metal albums it does make me wonder where the band would be at now if they would have stuck with mainstream metal instead of leading the glam metal movement. Either way Shout At The Devil maintains it's cult status and is still my favorite Motley Crue album.



Metal Mark says-

Motley Crue knocked out two great albums and yes it's the first two. After "Too fast for love" and "Shout at the devil" they never quite came close to the level of those two albums. However that might be enough because both are fantastic, but I have always prefered the debut. "Live Wire" is a killer opener and sets the mood for a hard and raw ride. "Come on and Dance" has a fantastic groove and is just a fun song.
"Public Enemy #1" has Vince Neil doing some of his best work. Even though I have always felt that other than Tommy Lee the rest of the band are very average musicians, but on occasion they had some great ideas. Having "Merry-Go-Round" take a flow like being on a merry go round was a fine idea and it works. "Take Me to the Top" is simple, but a real bouncy almost upbeat track. "Piece of Your Action" has the Crue in fine form and sounding confeident. "Starry Eyes" is a haunting track and one of my favorites on the album. The title track sports a fantastic chorus and a gritty main riff. "On with the Show" again has the band showing some solid songwriting and controlling the pace. This album has a fantastic raw edge and shows where hard rock in America could have gone, but soon the Crue and others would choose slicker more radio friendly sounds to latch onto. "Too fast for love" stands as a magnificent effort that pulls upon 70's glam, hard rock, punk and other sounds. A wonderful album for sure.

***What is your favorite Motley Crue album?

Top of the Heap-Deep Purple

Andy says-
Warner Bros. Records 1972 Released one year before I was born Machine Head would be album number six for Deep Purple. As everyone should already know it is also an album that is considered to be influential in the development of the genre that would come to be known as "heavy metal". It would also prove to be Deep Purple's most successful recording. Machine Head topped the charts in several countries following its release. The album would reach #1 in the UK.It stayed for 20 weeks in the top-40. It also reached #7 in the US at the time and remained on the Billboard 200 for 118 weeks. Everyone knows "Smoke On The Water" from the album as well as "Highway Star". "Highway Star" was even covered by Metal Church for their debut album. "Space Truckin'" has also become well known and highly praised. The album mixed in elements of classical music, blues and harder rock and made Deep Purple into household names. While I have no doubt that heavy metal would have evolved regardless of whether Deep Purple were around or not it's hard to ignore the influence that Rickie Blackmore and company had on young musicians. While I am sure it is easy to pick Machine Head as a top album because it is so well know I actually have many other Deep Purple albums in my collection. The fact is this album is just a classic and after this they experimented too much with other genres for my taste. Machine Head was and still is Deep Purple's crowning achievement.



Metal Mark says-

That's funny because my favorite Deep Purple album came out the year I was born. That is "In Rock" which was released upon everyone's unsuspecting senses and eardrums back in 1970. Opener "Speed King" lives up to it's name as it is a feverish burner. Next we get "Bloodsucker" which revolves around a killer main riff. "Child in time" is a haunting epic and one of my favorite Purple songs of all time. "Flight of the rat" is all over the place as it truly showcases every band member all at once. "Into the fire" frequently gets lost in the shuffle amidst all these great songs, but give it time and it holds it's own as a heavy hitting track. "Living wreck" might be the weakest track, but still good it's just there are so many great songs that one track was bound to be a little behind the pack. The closer "Hard Lovin' Man" is downright amazing, I mean stunning, jaw dropping display even now. Ian Gillan is just all over every song belting out every like it was his last and never stopping for a breath. Ritchie Blackmore just has you wondering how he came up with so many amazing riffs and he peels off with ease. Jon Lord just has the organ going all over the place. Ian Paice and Roger Glover keep the galloping beats going in fantastic form. Wow, still just a wonderful album that never fails to please me.

***What is your favorite Deep Purple album?

Top Of The Heap: Anthrax

Andy says-

Does Anthrax need an introduction? As part of the "Big Four" the band has released countless albums and have been at the forefront of the thrash movement since their humble beginnings in 1983. Despite numerous line up changes and a declining fan base Anthrax continues to carry on. With Joey Belladonna back in the fold yet again the band look to try to recapture their former glory. Whether their much delayed new album Worship Music will achieve that or not who knows. My own personal discovery of Anthrax came courtesy of Columbia House. As a teen growing up in small town America record stores were few and far apart. I remember having read about Anthrax in some metal magazine and thinking the name alone was cool. I ordered Spreading The Disease and eagerly awaited it's arrival in the mail. Once the package came and I popped the tape in my stereo I was impressed. I looked for more of their albums and was able to get Among The Living and State Of Euphoria. While I loved all three tapes it was Among The Living I was most drawn too. "Caught in a Mosh" and "Indians" are two of my favorites but not the only great songs this album has to offer. The title track is classic thrash...Headbanging 101 territory."I Am The Law" is more of a slow, power metal fist in the face tune. "One World" has grown on me over the years. It's not great at first listen and didn't thrill me back in the day. More and more though I've come to see how much the song works."A.D.I. / Horror of It All" I've always had a soft spot for. It's an underrated song for sure. The disc ends on a strong note with "Imitation of Life". One of the more mature cuts on the album it showed the group's growth. What I love most I think about the album is how much it draws on thrash, speed metal and even punk. You can hear the group's roots on these killer tracks and it has been debated that this is their best disc ever. Seeing as I picked it for my pick I guess I'm agreeing with that statement!



Metal Mark says-

Sometimes the first album by a band becomes your favorite album by that band just because it makes such an instantly strong impression that even good follow-up albums just can't trump it. That's definitely the case for me regarding Anthrax. It was summer of 1986 and having recently gotten into Metallica, Slayer and Exciter it was safe to say I had been bitten by the speed metal bug. So I was searching for other bands of this style and the guy who owned the local record store recommended Anthrax's "Spreading the disease". I bought the cassette because unfortunately that was my format of choice back in those days. Opener "A.I.R" cmae blasting on and once it was over I had to pick myself up off the ground because I had been floored byt it's power. However it was only the beginning as "Lone Justice" with it's tight gallop and Joey Belladonna's soaring vocals whipped me around like being caught in a tornado of sound. "Madhouse" had me banging my head along it while "S.S.C./Stand or Fall" had me singing along at the top of my lungs. "The Enemy" again gives Joey Belladonna a chance to shine. "Aftershock" was a huge bulldozer of a song and just one of many chances for drummer Charlie Benante to have my ears ringing without the all out assault that he was bringing. "Armed and Dangerous" showed the band's ability to spread out and knock out a song with some change ups and they excelled at it. "Medusa" is one of my favorites and even now I cannot listen to it just once because I have to press repeat and hear it again. "Gung-Ho" isn't the most invloved song and indeed it's quite basic but it's still massive dose of speed and heaviness. Still a fantastic album that never fails to impress me. My favorite Anthrax album and my favorite album of 1985.

***What is your favorite Anthrax album?

TOP OF THE HEAP:DIO

WB/Mercury Records 1983

Andy's pick-

Without a doubt Dio's solo debut Holy Diver is the best album he put out post-Black Sabbath.In 1982 disagreements over the mixing of Black Sabbath's Live Evil resulted in vocalist Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice leaving the band. The two of them wanted to continue writing and performing together so Dio (the band) was born. Joined by guitar wizard Vivian Campbell and bassist/keyboardist Jimmy Bain the pair would set out the create a landmark album in the field of heavy metal. With "Stand Up And Shout" and "Holy Diver" opening the album how could you go wrong? And the album was just non-stop catchy metal. Of course "Rainbow In The Dark" would also become a huge hit. I'm almost positive "Don't Talk To Strangers" was the first Dio song I ever heard. FM radio in the eighties (at least in my little part of Ohio) had lots of classic rock stations. I was exposed to Ronnie's sound thanks to a rummage sale radio and an eagerness to listen to anything "heavy". It wouldn't be until my early teens that I heard about all the flak the album artwork caused. My parents had been on a roll with the "rock and roll is the devil's music" crusade and made me watch an anti-rock video. Having seen the album cover and how wicked it looked I was hooked. I would eventually pick the album up on LP and I still have it to this day. Thankfully I was fortunate to have seen Dio one last time a few years back before his unfortunate passing. What struck me about him was how powerful and commanding he was. On a bill that included Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and my favorite Motorhead I walked away thinking that I had seen a true legend. Holy Diver still gets routine play in my household. Even my wife appreciates a little Dio every now and then. We lost a true icon last year but albums like this will always live on in the hearts of music lovers. Even now I am willing to bet you that some kid is dusting of this classic that he found in his parents record collection and being inspired to "Stand Up And Shout" at the world. Somewhere Ronnie is looking down and smiling.



Metal Mark's pick-

I think this is the forth or fifth one of these that Andy and I have done, but the first time we have picked the same album. The first Dio album I heard was "The last in line" in 1984. Actually that was the first time I ever heard Dio's distinctive voice and I was hooked right away. A few months later I was seeking out more and got to hear his band's 1983 debut "Holy Diver". Very similar in style to "The last in line", but even better. From the the burning anthem "Stand Up and Shout" through to the powerful "Shame on the night" this is a classic where every song. The band was amazing on this one, but as always the major focus is on Ronnie's vocals and he delivers on every note. "Rainbow in the dark" and "Holy Diver" staples on the radio and MTV back in the day. Both were songs that I never got tired of. Other favorites for me from this album are the haunting "Don't talk to strangers", the headbanging "Straight through the heart" and the all too overlooked "Caught in the middle". Ronnie was stuck on dragons, wishing wells and evil woman for a long time, but his talent and consistancy always shown through to the end. He spent decades giving his all in whatever project he was in and always seemed to really appreciate the fans and the opportunities that he had. He was a true hero in his field and we are glad he left us with so many fine albums including the mighty "Holy Diver".


***What is your favorite Dio album?

Top Of The Heap-Def Leppard

Time again for Top of the heap. Andy and I tell our favorite album by a band and then you can comment on your favorite. This time around we are talking about Def Leppard.

Andy's pick-

Mercury Records 1980


While I am very tempted to write about how Hysteria shaped a young 14 year old into the metal fan you see before you in all honesty Def Leppard's 1980 debut is more to my liking. Yes it's true that Hysteria was a road map for my hormone driven teenage years but it doesn't have the lasting impact that On Through The Night had. Before the group exploded into rock and roll stardom (and became the envy of every guy with their unrivaled sex appeal) they were just another New Wave Of British Heavy Metal band trying to break their way out of England. After renowned British BBC DJ John Peel played"Getcha Rocks Off" (off of the group's 3 track The Def Leppard E.P.) the band's popularity soared and the group was signed. Produced by Tom Allen (of Judas Priest fame) On Through The Night is far removed from the overly produced and snyth crazy Hysteria. In fact it owes more to bands like Saxon and Diamond Head than to the pop metal craze they are now known for. It's been said that this is the band's least favorite album. It is raw hard rock. That's what makes it appealing to me. It does have it's share of singles like "Rock Brigade", "Wasted" and "Hello America". But it's more than that. Listen to "Rocks Off" and you'll see a band playing balls out rock. "Sorrow Is A Women" is bluesy rock and roll with shades of Led Zepplin running through it. "Satellite" is a nice mixture of melody and metal. Sure, "When The Walls Come Tumbling Down" is Iron Maiden without the all the charm but, the closing number "Overture" is an epic rock and roll number not unlike something Boston or Journey would write (only more rock and less syrup). A great way to close off this underrated debut. While it was a hit in their home country it didn't make the waves that future albums would. To me though it's a classic hard rock disc and shows how a band can start off being rough around the edges before the music machine gets hold of them. I would have loved to have seen the band continue on this road more than the glitz and glamor of later releases.

Metal Mark's pick-



This is another band where I switch back and forth on my favorite and in this case it's between Pyromania and High n' Dry. Pyromania was the first Def Leppard album I ever heard and I was crazy about it right away. High n' Dry was the second one I heard when I checked out a scratched up vinyl copy from my local library ( one of the maybe five actual rock albums they owned at the time). Pyromania was smooth and catchy, but so was High n' dry although it was a little more rough around the edges in places. Those edges are what made it appeal to me a little more than Pyromania. They still retained some of their NWOBHM grit, but the writing was stronger and the hooks were sharper on High n' dry than on the debut "On through the night".High n' dry is definitly the top album from these guys that I can listen to from start to finish and have on many occasions over the last 25 plus years. I actually like every song on this, but if forced to pick a few favorites I would say the ripping "Another Hit and Run", the great to sing a long with"High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night)" , the haunting "Lady Strange" and the head noddin' "Mirror, Mirror (Look into My Eyes)". Back in the days of cassette "High n' dry" could frequently be found in my walkman ( really dating myself now). Nowadays I frequently listen to it when I get out of work on Friday on my way home, but actually I could certainly listen to it at almost any time.

***So what is your favorite Def Leppard album and why?

Top Of The Heap-Overkill

Time again for Top of the heap. We pick a band and then Andy and I share our favorite album by that band and tell why

Andy's pick-

Megaforce Records 1988

I was just trying to remember the first time I heard about Overkill. I know I was a little behind the times some since I went to private school up until the 8th grade. Our family never had MTV so I wouldn't have known that "Hello From The Gutter" was getting airplay on Headbangers Ball. I think my first introduction was walking into public school sometime in 1989 and seeing a kid wearing an Overkill shirt with a middle finger sticking up. I knew I had to find out about this band and so I did some digging around and before long I was listening to the sounds of one of New Jersey's greatest kept secrets. Under The Influence would be the band's breakthrough of sorts despite the fact that they had been around since the early 80s. With "Hello From The Gutter" introducing the world to vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth metal fans had a new voice to call their own. Under The Influence is driven by Blitz who has one of the most unique voices in all of metal. Tracks like "Shred" show of his raspy voice which was so different from what other lead singers had to offer in the scene. Bobby is in my mind the main focus on this album which also saw the band moving toward more of the thrash sound that bands like Exodus were doing around then. Under The Influence is raw thrash with a raw production. It has that gritty sort of feel. Standout tracks for me are of course "Hello From The Gutter" but also "Brainfade", "Drunken Wisdom" (Slayer love here!), "End Of The Line" (again a tad Slayer perhaps?) and "Head First". I love how the band morph thrash metal with an almost punk feel. I'm not really sure if there is any song I don't like. Backed by D.D. Verni, Bobby Gustafson and newcomer Sid Falck Blitz unleashes just a killer thrash disc from "Shred" to "Overkill III (Under The Influence)". It might not be as technical as other releases from Overkill nor as well praised. But it stands the test of time with me and remains a shining moment in metal history.

Metal Mark's pick -

Feel the fire

Megaforce

1985

The first Overkill album I ever heard was "Taking over" when it came out in 1987. I was overwhelmed by them right away and I played that tape quite a lot back in 1987-88. The next two albums "Years of decay" and "Horrorscope" were even better and for years my favorite alternated bewteen those two. However over the last five or six years I was drawn to their 1985 debut "Feel the fire". Indeed a raw but superior early thrash album. Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth's voice was melting my eardrums on scorching tracks like "Raise the dead" and "Blood and Iron". His unique vocals have always been so much of this band's sound as have the spine shaking bass licks of DD Verni. Overkill have changed guitarists and drummers plenty of times over the years. Yet my favorite Overkill guitarist was definitely Bobby Gustafson because he could shread with a very off the cuff type feel as evidenced by songs like "Blood and iron" and the title track. As for drummers again my favorite Overkill drummer is Rat Skates because while all the action was going on in front of him he was going crazy on the drums and bring booming beats all over the place. All of the parts comes together to form a very original sound on Overkill's debut that I don't think they have topped since. The first "Overkill" song is here with that haunting riff that would spawn sequel songs on subsequent albums, but none of them would top the original. Actually every song here is a classic to me and the album is one I can listen to over and over in it's entirety. It's a tough choice, but "Feel the fire" is my favorite Overkill album.

***What is your favorite Overkill album?

Top Of The Heap: Judas Priest

As promised here is the debut of Top of the heap. It's simple, twice a month we pick a band and then Andy and I pick our favorite album by that band and give reasons why we picked it. Then you are invited to comment on what your favorite album by that band is. For our debut we selected Judas Priest. Our favorites are...

Andy's Pick-


Gull Records 1976

For our first installment of Top Of The Heap Mark suggested Judas Priest. A great choice I though but how do I possible decide what my favorite record is by them? The band has been around now for something like 38 years! Aside from their last few releases I'd enjoyed just about every Priest album I've heard. I wore out all the tapes I had from them over the years (including the underrated Painkiller) and have put some serious wear and tear on my LPs by Rob Halford and company. What I'm trying to get at is other than maybe Black Sabbath there is no other band that has made an impact on classic heavy metal like Judas Priest. On this (their second record and last for Gull Records) early example of 1970's heavy metal the band churn out what I consider to be the first "true" heavy metal classic album. Sad Wings Of Destiny starts of with "Victim Of Changes" which is one of the greatest Judas Priest songs of all time. Still played in concert today this song is a classic with it's hard edge approach and brilliant solos. Followed up by the creepy sounds of "The Ripper" and the brilliance of "Dreamer Deceiver"/"Deceiver" Sad Wings Of Destiny is an actual "album". What I mean by this is that Judas Priest wrote quality songs for a complete record allowing the album to have that perfect flow. They didn't seem bothered to write "hits" and then tack on filler at the end. This record is meant to be enjoyed as a whole. By the time you hit "Prelude" you realize this. With it's dark feel this short instrumental paves the way for the timeless classic "Tyrant". "Genocide" is bluesy hard rock while "Epitaph" is a sorrowful ballad. "Island Of Domination" is heavy 70's hard rock that does dissolve into pub rock with an AC/DC vibe going for it at times. Sad Wings Of Destiny is an album Judas Priest fans either love or hate. There doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground. I for one love it. It isn't overly produced. It isn't all heavy metal. There is a lot going on here from beginning to end emotion wise. It showcases the band right before stardom would overcome them and in the process gives you a first look at where their greatness started from.

Metal Mark's pick-

Hell bent for leather

Columbia/CBS

1978/1979

I have changed my favorite Priest album over the years as Screaming for vengeance, Sad wings of destiny and Sin after sin have all been my favorite album in the past. For the last year or two it has definitely been Hell bent for leather. The first time I heard this album was in the mid-1980's. I was at a yard sale of a guy who was desperate to get rid of everything. I bought a box of stuff for a $1 and it had Star Trek books, some darts, old guitar straps, flashlights but most importantly stuffed into the bottom of the box were a couple of tapes. There was KISS-Creatures of the night, Whitesnake-Slide it in and Judas Priest-Hell bent for leather. I thought that I had hit the jackpot and in a way I had. I liked all three tapes, but Hell bent for leather made the strongest impression on me. To me Hell bent for leather is like a middle of the good albums of Priest's career. As such I think it has some of the raw sound of the previous 1970's efforts, but it also has some of the unbelievable tightness and heavy melodies that would dominate their outputs of the early 1980's. Hell bent for leather is a rollercoaster ride of some of the band's most exciting songs. They have powerful heavy hitters like the title track, Killing Machine and Delivering the goods as well as real headbangers like Running wild plus Rob Halford really gets a chance to show his tremendous skills on the likes of Before the dawn and the fantastic Evening Star. To me this album has the sound and the spirit that made Judas Priest such a legend in the metal world.

***So what is your favorite Judas Priest album?

New feature coming soon

We will a new feature coming next week. It is "Top of the heap". About twice a month we will pick a known hard rock/metal artist then Andy and I will our favorite album by that band. We may pick the same one, but we may not. Anyway we will share our favorite album by the band in question, list our reasons for why we like it and then ask for you to chime in with your favorite album by that band.

First installment will come next week. Hope you enjoy it.