Slow burners

May as well start at the top. I really didn't get this album when I first heard it. I already had South Of Heaven, and expected something similar, and perhaps a bit slower! It was all over so quick I felt ripped off because it was so short (it was on cassette, and the full album was on both sides). But I kept reading about it in the magazines, so I kept listening to it, and then all of a sudden I got it. Angel Of Death, Jesus Saves, Raining Blood, Piece By Piece, Altar of Sacrifice, this album could do no wrong! As for the length, that didn't seem to matter once I was fully immersed. In fact, I was highly pissed off when I finally replaced my worn out tape which had done me many years of gallant service, with a CD, which had TWO bonus tracks! You shouldn't fuck with an album like this. It was 10 songs, and should remain 10 songs. So I just don't listen to the other two.

Got this in 1990, when it was still a pretty big deal. I'd heard Mass Hypnosis, and to be honest I wasn't that highly impressed with the song. I bought the album anyway, and initially it just seemed like several more versions of Mass Hypnosis. I thought it was a bit blegh. I filed it away for a bit, pulled it out, gave it a few more listens, and still wasn't getting it. Then in 1991, Arise came out, along with the reissue of Schizophrenia. I bought them both at the same time. I stuck Schizophrenia in my Walkman first, and pow! All of a sudden, Beneath The Remains made sense! The riffs, the lyrics, the speed... I suppose Schizophrenia showed where it had developed from. Arise was a bit of a letdown after that, but it grew on me too.

Persistence Of Time was probably my second favourite album of 1990 after Seasons In The Abyss (don't mention Rust in Peace. That's for another topic!), so when Anthrax finally got around to recording another studio album, I was expecting something heavy as fuck. What I found instead was melody! Where were Scott Ian's crushing riffs, not to mention that Godzilla-stomp rhythm guitar? Where were the thrashers like Discharge and Got The Time? And where were the theatrical vocals? I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for melody at that time. Metallica had released the Black album, and every other thrash band seemed to be slowing down and going to shit, and Anthrax had done it too. 

But then a couple of years later, I revisited it and discovered John Bush had a really powerful voice. Those riffs and melodies really stuck in your head. And you know what? I listened to Sound Of White Noise over and over, unable to believe how wrong I'd been to dismiss it.

That's just three. I'm sure I've got others, but this is turning into War and Peace.

Helstar - Glory of Chaos

Helstar is and always will be one of my favorite bands, but when I heard 'Glory of Chaos' I was kind of overwhelmed by the intense speed, Rivera's piercing screams on 'Alma Negra', and the frantic drumming. Back when I first heard it, I wasn't as familiar with extreme music (Yup, believe it or not, I wasn't always the thrash and death loving guy I am now. ). I loved the Helstar album I owned at that point 'Burning Star', but the new Helstar was much more brutal. Eventually though, as my tastes got to how they are now I fell in love. 'Alma Negra' is now one of my favorite songs from them, and the album is my second favorite album from them after their new one.

Yes - The Yes Album

This isn't anything metal, but this was a recent grower for me. I originally heard it a year ago or so, and was disappointed. Recently though, I was listening to my mom's cassette of it and really enjoyed it. While it's not my favorite album from them, it's certainly one of my favorites.

Yup, Voivod is definitely one of the most unique bands out there. Can't really go wrong with any of their albums!