|
The
good folks over at Decibel magazine have put together an
extraordinary issue with what its writers consider The
Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of the Decade. To be
frank, when I first got the mass e-mail informing me
about this issue I was not interested. Every year’s end
sees every publication (paper and digital) scurrying to
put together Best of Year lists that for the most part
amount to a short list of the most hyped albums of the
most hyped bands. That’s fine and all, but for someone
who spends the best part of the year submerged in music
(mostly, new music) going through these lists is just a
waste of time. I rather spend my time discovering new
bands.
On the other
hand, massive lists, like the one Decibel has put
together, serve many purposes. First of all, it lets me compare
my taste with that of the writers. It lets me agree and
disagree. It even gets me surprised by the inclusion of
overlooked gems I may dig and pissed off by the consideration of
shit records. Ultimately, lists like this one aid in the
discovery of albums I may have overlooked throughout the past
ten years.
I am not
100% sure how this list was assembled. Were all the albums
included voted for? Or were some writers allowed to include some
of their individual preferences? Certainly, the inclusion of
such non-metal travesty as Andrew WK’s I Get Wet seems to
point to the latter. Which brings me to the next point. Extreme
music has gotten to the point where it can all (hardcore, grind,
crust) be placed under the ‘metal’ umbrella. If not,
Decibel Magazine certainly thinks so. In the big scope of
things, this is just a small argument, but considering that the
Top Album of the decade comes from a non-traditional hardcore
band, the magazine would have done well titling the issue The
Top 100 Greatest Extreme Albums of the Decade.
Besides the
inclusion of goodhearted Andrew in this list, my only other
complain would be the zero coverage of d beat and crust bands
and the consideration of Slayer’s World Painted Blood. Granted, it
is Slayer and the new album is a return to form (of sorts) and
they deserve to make every Top Metal list ever, but the record
has not been out long enough (released on November, 3, 2009) to
provide hindsight. Without the intention to be a total party
pooper and while confessing to be a total elitist when it comes
down to music, the list also includes such dull duds as
Killswitch Engage (two entries), Dimmu Borgir and Hatebreed.
Sure enough, these are all bands that have played a key role in
the surge of extreme music during this almost gone decade.
Regardless, in my opinion, these bands suck balls.
Then, there are
also all those bands I am elated to see on the list. Taint’s
The Ruin of Nova Roma made the cut at no.77 and so did Deathspell Omega (No.40), Tragedy, Craft (No.32) and Watain
(No.44). Then there are those albums I know nothing about. Those
recordings that shall put me on a mission of discovery. The
Paper Chase sounds great on paper and Deathevokation proves that
Swedish death metal was indeed alive before Funebrarum put out
the sadly ignored The Sleep of Morbid Dreams.
Anyone with
a Decibel subscription will agree with the albums that cracked
the Top 10. The usual suspects make the cut. They are all bands
pushing their individual envelopes and expanding any underground
metal fan’s limitations. Wisely, this special issue also includes
two Decibel Hall of Fame articles that justifiably made the cut
to the top of the list.
((BUY IT NOW))
|
|
