So on October 2, Rhino Records – who I think pretty much deal exclusively in greatest hits packages and other compilations – are putting out this Heavy Metal Box thing. As its name suggests, it’s a four disc box set taking the listener through the history of metal from ’68 to ’91. And while I appreciate the diversity of the material – where the hell else are you gonna find Lita Ford sandwiched in between Savatage and friggin’ Manowar? – I gotta wonder who’s gonna actually buy this thing.

I mean, let’s be real: there are no b-sides here, no live tracks, no rarities, just a collection of songs from various metal artists – and most of them pretty famous songs, too (Metallica’s “One,” Slayer’s “South of Heaven,” Skid Row’s “Youth Gone Whild,” Pantera’s “Cowboys from Hell,” etc.). So really, unless you’re trying to administer some sort of self-taught “History of Metal 101″ course (a course that, with the exception of a single Sepultura song, would completely ignore death and grind, by the way), or you’re such a completist that you’re willing to shell out what I’m sure will be some ungodly amount of money for liner notes by Ronnie James Dio, there is absolutely no incentive whatsoever to buy this. None.

Oh well. At least the packaging is cool:

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/7_Va-ILvhRQ" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

-AR