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Poll

THE BEST OF 2008: METALLICA, AC/DC OR GUNS N’ ROSES?

 Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 at 5:14pm by

2008 was a pretty big year for so-called “legacy” rock and metal releases. Metallica, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses — arguably three of the biggest rock/metal acts of all time — all released new albums to varying fanfare. So now that you’ve had some time to brew on how these records stack up against the bands’ older material and against each other… which is your favorite? Vote, then weigh in with your thoughts in the comments.

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{democracy:36}

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  • Name Not Applicable

    Testament – The Formation of Damnation

    ’nuff said.

  • http://www.zerosystemmusic.com Kyle Odell

    AC/DC wins this all the way for me, but Metallica comes in at a very close 2nd place. I am also with the guy above me saying Testament bc their newest record is incredible.

  • Tommy

    What about Judas Priest – Nostradamus?

  • Anthony

    Death Magnetic. It’s the only one of the 3 I listened to.

  • I, Monarch

    Agreed, Testament’s album should be up there. Otherwise I think “none” should be the answer

  • http://www.hibernum.net hibernum

    Which do you prefer:

    Poop that comes out like peanut butter
    Poop that comes out like baby snakes
    Poop that comes out burny

    Vote now!

  • ryan

    option 4, do you care?

  • http://mandatory-metallica.blogspot.com mankvill

    Ben Folds

    erm uh

    Metallica

  • Ben

    It’s not as fascinating as Chinese Democracy or as consistent as Black Ice, but I have to go with the new Metallica.

  • bucketochicken

    Metallica, because A) fuck the Axl Rose GnR Experience Good Time Nostalgia Band, and B) I haven’t heard any of Black Ice, but I’m pretty sure I’ve already heard Black Ice and C) Death Magnetic is actually quite enjoyable (save tU3 and TDTNC, which are awful).

    Also, baby snakes, because Zappa rules!!!!

  • metalanus

    win for mankvill!!
    ben indeed.

  • POOP TITS

    GNR ALL THE WAY METALLICA FUCKING SUCK AND ACDC SOUNDS THE SAME

  • tyler09

    did you even listen to Chinese Democracy? its all poppy and electronic except for one song that whole album is fuckin crapjuice

  • CoreyTaylor

    slipknot – all hope is gone

  • http://www.myspace.com/bminekime enemyofgod72

    I had to go with AC/DC since it’s not exciting but doesn’t ruin their legacy either. The other 2 are giant turd sandwiches. Like most political votes this poll was just picking the least worst. None of these bands should be proud for winning this stinker of a poll.

  • crapmcpoopin

    None because all of these fucking suck a fat cock.

  • Devin

    I’m voting Metallica without having listened to the new AC/DC album… don’t really care to listen to it either because I know it isnt going to be anything special.

    I imagine their single is that which is in the rock band commercials anyways and thats only alright.

  • JackSparrow

    Chinese Democracy
    masterpiece!

  • Zac

    Trivium – Showgun

    \m/

  • Le Roi

    People are only excited about Death Magnetic because St. Anger blew balls. There’s nothing new or innovating on DM. It’s just the old sound but not as good (it’s an ok record but it is NOT Master of Puppets!) AC/DC stopped making riffs in the early 80′s. But they’ve done a great job at copying those riffs for the last 25 years.
    Chinese Democracy is not the real GNR, but the album is on of the best of 2008.

    (and I’ve listend to all the albums onlike others)

  • http:www.myspace.com/damagedmike DamagedMike

    Another often-overlooked band worthy of the moniker, “legacy act” released an album this year that, easily, trumps all three of your choices. Testament’s return to glory with the excellent “The Formation of Damnation” is what we hoped for from Metallica, but never really anticipated from Testament. I think, though not quite sure, that Testament’s latest also has more of the band’s original members than three listed here. Not that it has any real bearing. From songwriting, to production, to chemistry, to musicianship and performance, Testament beats them all. They have every reason to be proud of what they have accomplished compared to their peers. They were always left out during any mention of the big four thrash bands from the 80’s and these days they have far more relevance than any of those four. Though they are not as big or successful as those four, they continue to inspire in ways those four can only dream.

  • Chuss

    How to vote ?

  • miguel_g(Peru)

    there have been better albums this year (Gojira and Testament comes to mind) but out of those 3, Death Magnetic is the winner by deafult.

    You don’t need to listen to Black Ice to figure out how cool it is, unless you’re 7 years old and never heard of them, and Chinese Democracy is a collection of good songs, but it isn’t a Guns n’ Roses album at all. It sounds like a bad hybrid of NIN and the former sound of the band. Death Magnetic doesn’t does anything new, but just like Iron Maiden in 2000 with “Brave New World”, is just what we needed to hear from them. The whole album is great, Kirk without being the best lead guitarist ever does some pretty damn cool solos, James is still playing godly and his studio voice has improved a little, Robert is just awesome (a shame that his bass playing only sounds really really good in the GHIII version) and Lars….at least he tries this time. Cyanide and Broken, Beat and scarred are an example of that.

  • dennis

    guns n roses is the best

  • http://www.last.fm/user/Richaod/ Richaod

    Unquestionably Chinese Democracy – it’s the only one of those that doesn’t sound like a retread.

  • Carolina

    Chinese Democracy. I prefer Chinese Democracy. Good lyrics, great songs. I love it!!!

    I like AC/DC and Metallica too, but they always play the same things. It’s always the same. Nothing new. They don’t surprise me anymore.

  • toni

    fakegnr sucks ass

  • greg

    WOW, Metallica. We have some bad music listeners on this site.

  • mjd13

    Guns N’ Rose > AC/DC > Metallica

  • Jesse

    I went with AC/DC. Mostly because they didn’t fail at anything when making their new album. It just the same old kick ass hard rock you’d expect from these guys. I like the new Metallica album, but they fail quite a few times on that record to do something different yet good at the same time. Chinese Democracy is good, but I can’t give GNR(Axl) too much credit because, lets face it, it’s not GNR. AC/DC is about as organic as organic gets as far as I’m concerned. Just good old headbanging, get drunk as fuck music from a reliable band. They can do no wrong.

  • earth2tom

    Metal “fuckin’” Church

  • http://www.gunsnroses.com Axl

    chinese democracy owns.

    AC/DC and Metallica are shit.

  • Davies14

    GnR.

    ‘Least Axl tried to do something different.

  • jonowev

    Out of those three, Metallica. But none of them were that good.

  • Josh

    Chinese Democracy all the way, AC/CD and Metallica made awesome CD’s, but GN’R made art.

  • Jack

    Guns N’ Roses – for being an album that actually challenges the listener!

    Don’t you try and stop us now ;)

    Axl’s revenge in NOW!

  • http://www.asimplecomplex.com Mark

    d) One Day As A Lion

  • Devin

    The only good part of Chinese Democracy are bucketheads solos…

    So I don’t even think of it as GnR being good I just think of wow buckethead can shred.

  • hater

    Crazy man! Caaarazy!

  • SlipMush

    Out of the given selections I would go with Guns N’ Roses. only because I didn’t really enjoy the new Metallica album, not saying that it wasn’t an ok listen, it just didn’t spark my attention as much. The new ACDC album was good…..but it’s practically the same as every other ACDC album, so really nothing new. That leaves Guns N’ Roses, who even though have a completely diffent lineup (well quite an extensive one at that), are still making good music. Yes the album may not be what everyone expected it to be after 15 years, and it is a bit jumbled…but sometimes different is a good thing, and I think the Guns have done a good job on their new album and It’s a real good listen once you get past all the criticism and expectations, just sit back and take it for what it is, a rebirth of a once great band. So Guns N’ Roses gets my vote :)

  • Spiderpig

    Chinese Democracy is an inspiring reach for perfection
    that comes within inches of it’s grasp. Axl has the balls to experiment
    and try to create actual art, which is more than metallica or ac/dc
    has done in the same time Axl has been putting the album together
    I haven’t bought a metallica since the black album. I pretend they died in a plane crash
    in ’92. One day I’ll find someone who has the post “plane crash” albums to hear the songs that haven’t been on the radio. But I can’t find anyone.
    “My lifestyle determines my deathstyle”????
    Perhaps the worst quote ever written and you ALL
    know it!!!

    Tool, NIN and GnR still give me hope for good music

  • SOFIA

    chinese democracy by far

    they’re both good albums but chinese democracy is a masterpiece.

  • Gryffindor

    Death Magnetic. Great album, haven’t been able to stop listening to it since September. Love every track, while there are certainly better ones than others.

  • http://--- Clau

    GUNS N’ ROSES STARTS NOW! THE BEST!

  • http://--- ARGENTINA

    Guns N’ Roses, starts Now!

  • Jude

    No brainer– Chinese Democracy. AC/DC’s Black Ice is good, but just the same ol same ol, another good sounding, classic AC/DC album. Nothing new. Nothing special. Just kick ass. As for Metallica, it is there best album since Black. It is a great, solid Metallica record. But, Chinese Democracy has a “bigger” more epic sound. CD is in the ranks of Led Zeppelin IV and Dark Side of the Moon, amazing album.

  • chris

    if people will give it time, Chinese Democracy will always win – the other two are just good, solid releases, but ChiDem is a real achievement, a real classic. It has also taken a lot more time and pain to bring forth, but it’s worth it, cos’ it’s more consistent and plays beautifully from start to finish, a rarity in this ‘the-album-is-dead’ times. The others are just collections of good songs – good songs to be sure – but ChiDem is a great victory for album rock and hard rock

    long live Chinese Democracy :D

  • Mark91

    Chinese democracy easily.
    Black ice sounds exactly the same like every other AC/DC album, if u have back to black then u have black ice.
    Death Magnetic is good, I love “all nightmare long”, “judas kiss” and “That was just your life”. The production brings it down a notch.
    CHINESE DEMOCRACY! People say GN’R are nothing without slash…the ones that say this obviously havent heard CD, as the solos on the album are AMAZING! Best album of the year easily, every song sounds different and original.

  • andrew

    heres a short summary:
    ac dc: good album, best in awhile. however, ac dc’s creativity level is incredibly low. a good version of the same album they have been releasing for 30 years.

    metallica: a good album, but overall just a return to their old style. its good, but it is not as good as the old albums.

    guns n roses: extremely creative and innovative. not old guns n roses style at all, but a fantastic album. by far the most interesting of the three. and by far the best.

    chinese democracy is easily the best among these albums. they are all good, but metallica and ac dc especially are uncreative. axl is one of the most creative artists out there, whether you like it or not.

    CD STARTS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Ray

    Guns N’ Roses Chinese Democracy is a great album and wins hands down!

  • Baczer

    OMG, what a shame. Chinese has 1039 votes and Metallica’s DM only 669. I love Metallica since I ended 8 years. I like G’n'R too, but their new album is not incredible, Metallica’a is.

  • Max

    Chinese Democracy! What a masterpiece!!!

  • http://- papa srapa

    kurewskie GnR smierdzi..i jest to dupy nie podobne…nowe AC DC pok ale jak zwykle nieco wtorne….za to Metallica prezentuje wszystko to co najlepsze wiec to jej nazlezy sie zwyciestwo w tym zapyzialym glosowaniu

  • Tony

    CHINESE DEMOCRACY !!! AX = Genius !!

  • philosopher93

    I’ve tried listening to Chinese Democracy and it just doesn’t do it for me. Masterpiece, no. Now Cynic’s Traced in Air, yes. Unlike Axl, Paul Masvidal didn’t take 15 years just to make an ok album. Every song on Traced in Air is simply amazing. Easily in my top 5 favorite albums of 2008. Paul is what I would call a musical genius. Sorry Axl, Paul just took a steamy dump on your life.

  • NormalGuns

    Death Magnetic: Liked it alot, especially Unforgiven III, Cyanide, The Day that Never Comes, but James voice gets annoying and the guitar work is incredibly messy and not well thought out. I liked some of the lyrics though.

    Chinese Democracy: Love it, the album is the perfect follow up for the Illusions, I never wanted Appetite For Destruction II, I already have the first one, I want something new. Bucketheads guitar work on this album is perfect for the songs(I still love Slash though). This I Love is perhaps one of my new favorite songs and Catcher in the Rye’s lyrics blew me away.

    Black Ice: AC/DC doing what AC/DC does best, kick some serious ass. This album is the best I’ve heard from Brian since Back in Black, and when I saw them this year on tour (Indianapolis November 3rd 2008) they blew me away, great show and killer album. I also thought it was kindof fresh and at least somewhat different from their other albums but even so, I always loved the AC/DC sound and they make some fun songs. Rock N’ Roll Train is a new favorite of mine along with Stormy May Day, Smash and Grab, and Money Made. Anything Goes is up there too.

    The only masterpiece here to me is Chinese Democracy so it gets my vote. Remember he didn’t spend 14 years on 1 album, he spent it on 4 albums. 3 more to come guys, get ready for em.

  • bobby

    GNR by FAR!!!! Axl owns, CD is a masterpiece!!!

  • Cc

    I voted for DM
    I know its not very fresh – it’s back to their old style, but I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t think anyone was expecting a Master Of Puppets no. 2
    There’s some really good, solid riffs in there and the solos are fairly good, though Hammett’s wah-wah annoys me sometimes, and I liked the lyrics alot.

    It’s a pity about the sound quality, but overall I was quite happy with it – The Unforgiven III in particular I can’t stop listening to.

    Chinese Democracy was very brave of Axl and I enjoyed it a lot… can’t say the same about Black Ice..

  • zdzisław

    AC/DC > METALLICA >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> guns’n'roses

  • CB

    ACDC Rocks here Definitely my vote

    But Guns n roses are pretty awesome

    and Metallica Rocks as well!