I have been listening to heavy metal music for 20 years now. But I had to start somewhere. If you already listen to metal, then you will know the albums that got you there. If not, then take note of some of the albums below, maybe they will get you further into your metal journey. Allow me to tell you my story, and the albums that started my journey.
I got into metal music around the year 2000. I grew up in the 90s, a dark decade for metal. Glam has disappeared from the mainstream, thrash was dormant and the rest of metal was relying on Pantera to hold the throne.
I grew up on a concoction of Britpop, Electronica and Indie music. Exciting to a child following the mainstream, but with no musical identity of my own. By the latter half of the decade, I got into pop-punk and grunge. The albums I listened to most were Enema Of The State by Blink 182 and Americana by The Offspring. I still very much enjoy those albums today.
But I really got into metal music through 2000-2002. I still very much listened to pop punk, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket by Blink 182 still one of my favourite albums today. But it is metal music which still dominates my listening today.
So here are 6 albums which sent me full force into the metal abyss:
Mutter – Rammstein
I remember the first time I saw the video for Ich Will on Kerrang! TV here in the UK, I was mesmerised. The simplicity of the heavy riffing had me hooked, it was easily the heaviest thing I had ever listened to. There’s just something about the sound of industrial metal that hits the soul hard.
I bought the album and it was incredible. Mein Hertz Brent is easily one of the best album opening songs of all time. Epic orchestral accompaniment to the heavy riffing. Zwitter is one of the coolest main riffs ever and there aren’t many songs heavier than Rein Raus.
Rammstein was also one of the first gigs I went to and the awesome spectacle they put on just cemented how much I loved them. If you go to a Rammstein show and don’t almost catch on fire then you must have turned up to the wrong gig.
Rammstein have produced other awesome albums, Reise Reise and Sehnsucht sit at the top of the tree. But the nostalgia for me puts Mutter at number one.
God Hates Us All – Slayer
I had previously listened to a couple of Slayer songs before I really got into metal. They were off Reign In Blood which at the time I didn’t appreciate as one of the best albums of all time. However it was God Hates Us All that I experienced first.
I understand the Slayer faithful may not have appreciated the switch from their typical sound, but man this album is aggressive. As a 16 year old boy appreciating the anger and clearly aimed offensive lyrics was as easy as taking candy from a bag of candy. Maybe following Diabolus In Musica did it a favour, as this is clearly a step up in quality.
Bloodline (below) is still one of metal’s coolest videos. A lesson in how to use blood in a metal video without turning the cringe up to 10.
This might be heresy to say, but I think I prefer Paul Bostaph‘s drumming in Slayer. Don’t get me wrong Dave Lombardo is unquestionably brilliant. His drum work on Reign in Blood so influential to heavy metal, especially extreme genres. But the relentless, technical nature to Bostaph‘s drumming adds a new layer to the Slayer sound, and perfectly fits in with the sounds of this album. Often overlooked and underrated, but check out below for some top quality live drumming.
And learning all the lyrics to sing along to Payback is bitchin’! It’s a shame slayer are no more, but all good things must come to an end. Let us not forget what an extraordinary catalogue Slayer have, and how awesome this album is.
Hatebreeder – Children Of Bodom
Once I was introduced to Children Of Bodom, little did I know they would become my all time favourite band. Hatebreeder is their second album, and early Bodom is noticeably technical for the sake of being technical (I believe Alexi Laiho commented this too), but who cares! They are extremely talented musicians. Add in they were around 20 years old when this album came out and even more impressive it becomes.
There is a very heavy neo-classical element to Bodom‘s early music. Not often seen fused with melodic death metal makes them stand out from the crowd. Duelling guitar and keyboard neo-classical solos is a delight to listen to. They became a more rounded and mature band once Follow The Reaper came out (their breakout album), but the free spirited nature of this album stands out as their finest work.
Downfall will always be one of the greatest songs to end an album. Janne Wirman‘s haunting work on the keyboard makes this song perfect.
I think this was once of the first albums I listened to where the song structure was atypical. Extended passages, shifting style and tempo on a whim. Keyboard as important in solo’s as lead guitar. Alexi‘s screeching vocals leading the way. What more could you ask for.
Children of Bodom have since parted ways, but I am very excited to see what is next for Alexi Laiho‘s new venture Bodom After Midnight.
Iowa – Slipknot
My first ever gig was Slipknot supporting Slayer on the Unholy Alliance tour. Who knew that they would become one of the biggest bands in the world not long later. Iowa still remains Slipknot‘s best album today, and it’s easy to see why. Strong groove influence to the riffs, hyper-aggressive song writing and music videos with all the angst a 16 year old could absorb.
Left Behind is still one of the best metal riffs of all time, whether you call it nu-metal or not. Actually it’s harsh to call Iowa nu-metal, as it is so much more than that. Mick Thompson and Jim Root‘s riffing is definitely more groove metal influenced, and all the anger from Corey Taylor feels expertly placed.
Slipknot have gone on to be one of the biggest bands in metal, their style shifting to a slightly more commercial tone over time aiding this. But listen to People = Shit and remind yourself what they are at their best. And how many bands have a member who is solely a clown smashing a can with a baseball bat!
Toxicity – System of a Down
Again on said Kerrang! TV (the only reputable music channel playing metal at the time) I remember seeing Chop Suey for the first time. That was my first experience into how utterly insane System of a Down are. I mean I had to keep listening to this song just to try to understand what the hell it’s all about.
But you know what, there is no band in the world quite like SOAD. Wildly aggressive singing mixed with melodic harmonised passages. I couldn’t get enough. There are clear anti-political messages throughout, but most of the lyrics are just batshit crazy.
The opening riff to Deer Dance is one of my favourite, simple and heavy just as I like it. Needles is still the one of the most insane songs I have ever heard – and I listen to Gutalax.
Nihility – Decapitated
Nihility was the second album released by Polish band Decapitated back in 2002. At this point I was not at all into death metal in its purer form. But this album blew me away with the technicality of the song writing and the sheer brutal precision of the drumming. This album sounds so clean and pristine, but doesn’t lose the death metal feel.
There is clearly a youthful immaturity to this album, but the quality of the recording and the clarity of all the instruments and the vocals is astounding. Most bands would commit terrible atrocities to write an album this accomplished.
Add to this that the drummer (Witold ‘Vitek’ Kielyka) was 17 years old (yes 17!) when this album was recorded makes it all the more remarkable. Tragically Vitek lost his life in 2007, aged 23 when their tour bus crashed. The world lost an extremely talented drummer that day.
I hope that has helped stir up some memories of these albums, or the albums that got you into metal. I grew up in a torrid time for metal music, but finding these albums genuinely defined my musical identity. If you are new to the metal scene, check out these albums to expand your horizon.
Check out bands with misinterpreted albums to find some new found respect for some notably criticised albums.
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