#4: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – ALIVE OR JUST BREATHING
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 5:00pm by Axl Rosenberg
We recently polled a wide array of musicians, managers, publicists, label reps, and writers from within the world of metal to find out what they thought the 21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century So Far have been. Eligible albums were released between January 1, 2000 and April 1, 2009. Each panelist turned in a ballot, with their #1 album worth 21 points, their #2 album worth 20 points, and so on and so forth. The ballots are now in and we’ll be counting down one album a day until we reach #1. Today we present the #4 album, coming in with a total of 204 points…
Killswitch Engage, Alive or Just Breathing (Roadrunner, 2002)
Jesse Leach – Vocals
Adam Dutkiewicz – Drums/Guitars/Piano
Mike D’Antonio – Bass
Joel Stroetzel – Guitars
Tom Gomes – Drums
Produced by Adam Dutkiewicz
“THE TIME APPROACHES!!!” Jesse Leach howls in the first seconds of Alive or Just Breathing. “Kingdoms will rise to power/but kingdoms fall to dust.”
It’s as though he were talking about nu-metal.
It is entirely possible that, as Ian Christe posits, you can credit the #7 album on this list, Lamb of God’s Ashes of the Wake, with “commercially killing off nu-metal.” But there’s no denying that, at least as of 2009, AOJB was more influential, and, perhaps, should be credited with artistically killing off nu-metal.
Which is ironic, because Adam D. dressed like a member of Adema at the time.
Also ironic: this is barely what we’ve come to know as a Killswitch Engage record. Although I’m sure there are some trolls somewhere pining away for the return of Leach to the fold, this is basically no one’s idea of the definitive KSE line-up (that would be the currently-still-intact line-up that recorded the #6 album, The End of Heartache). Hell, there wasn’t really a line-up here; the album was recorded over the course of nearly a year and a half, with resident savant Adam D. basically doing whatever was needed, like metalcore’s answer to Trent Reznor or Prince.
Maybe that’s why this album is vicious in a way that the Jones/Foley years have never really been. The core of the band – Dutkiewicz, D’Antonio and Stroetzel – has remained the same all this time, but there’s some different personalities for them to intermingle with, and I wonder if it didn’t push them jjjjuuuussssttt this side of heavier. Pete Cortese, who wrote the totally wicked riff that powers “Fixation on the Darkness,” never even recorded with the band, and Leach seemed a lot more concerned with grandiose spiritual questions then, say, some chick. Sure, the band was borrowing liberally from the Swedes, but who fucking cares? Better than borrowing liberally from Limp Bizkit. Alive or Just Breathing is really just pure kill.
“Temple from the Within” ends with the longest breakdown ever that isn’t Pantera’s “Domination.” The stabbing doberman bark riff that kicks off “Life to Lifeless” makes me want to kill something every time I hear it (and it goes great with strobe lights). I’m even willing to forgive “Just Barely Breathing” for recycling a lyrical concept that Tool had utilized in “Prison Sex” nearly a decade earlier, just because the song crushes oh so very hard.
(And on a side note: why is there no question mark in the title? The lyrics to the track “Just Barely Breathing,” from whence the album takes its name, clearly ask a question – “Are we alive or just breathing?” – but the way its actually written on the album cover makes it seem like more of a statement.)
After AOJB, it seemed like half the bands in the world were being produced by Adam D. or having their album art and/or merch designed by Mike D’Antonio. And this happened for reason: the album is great. People forget that sometimes things become trendy because they were actually cool. Alive or Just Breathing was – is = genuinely, 110% cool. It’s not the band’s fault that so many of the groups that came after them sucked.
With all due respect to Howard Jones and Justin Foley: Alive or Just Breathing was, is, and will continue to be the definitive Killswitch Engage album, and possibly the definitive metalcore record. Fuckin’ A.
-AR
THE LIST SO FAR:
#6 – Killswitch Engage, The End of Heartache
#7 – Lamb of God, Ashes of the Wake
#9 – Gojira, From Mars to Sirius
#13 – Mastodon, Blood Mountain
#14 – System of a Down, Toxicity
#15 – Nachtmystium, Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1
#16 – Machine Head, The Blackening
#18 – Lamb of God, New American Gospel
#20 – Shadows Fall, The War Within
#21 – Slipknot, Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
THE PANEL OF VOTERS
Chris Adler, Lamb of God
Dan And, Bison B.C.
Ben Apatoff, Apatoff for Destruction/Metal Injection
Jason Bittner, Shadows Fall
Tim Brennan, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Freddy Cai, Painkiller Magazine
Ian Christe, Bazillion Points
Reverend David J. Ciancio, Yeah! Management
Betsey Cichoracki, Relapse Records
Paul Conroy, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
J. Costa, Thy Will Be Done
Dallas Coyle, ex-God Forbid/Coyle Media
Doc Coyle, God Forbid
CT, Rwake
Anso DF, MetalSucks/Hipsters Out of Metal!
Vince Edwards, Metal Blade Records
Charles Elliott, Abysmal Dawn/Nuclear Blast Records
Brian Fair, Shadows Fall
Leo Ferrante, Warner Music Group
D.X. Ferris, author 33 1/3: Reign in Blood/Freelance Journalist
Mike Gitter, Roadrunner Records
Nick Green, Decibel
Matt Grenier, August Burns Red
Anthony Guzzardo, Earache Records
Kevin Hufnagel, Dysrhythmia
Mark Hunter, Chimaira
Steve Joh, Century Media
EJ Johantgen, Prosthetic Records
Kim Kelly, Metal Injection/Hails & Horns/Freelance Journalist
Josh “The J” Key, Psychostick
Jason Lekberg, Epic Records
Eyal Levi, Daath
Bob Lugowe, Relapse Records
Matt McChesney, The Autumn Offering
Jake McReynolds, Psychostick
Marc Meltzer, The Syndicate
Josh Middleton, Sylosis
Matt Moore, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder
Vince Neilstein, MetalSucks
Sammy O’Hagar, MetalSucks
Anton OyVey, MetalSucks/Bacon Jew
Rob Pasbani, Metal Injection
Alex Preiss, Psychostick
Carlos Ramirez, NoiseCreep/Universal Music Group
Brian Rocha, Fresno Media USA
Jeremy Rosen, Roadrunner Records
Axl Rosenberg, MetalSucks
Satan Rosenbloom, MetalSucks/Cerebral Metalhead
David Bee Roth, MetalSucks
Jason Rudolph, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Amy Sciarretto, Roadrunner Records/NoiseCreep
Carl Severson, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Gary Suarez, MetalSucks/No Yoko No/Brainwashed
Geoff Summers, The End Records/Crustcake
Bram Teitelman, The Syndicate/Metal Insider
Alisha Turull, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Christopher R. Weingarten, 1000TimesYes/Freelance Journalist
FROM SORROW TO SERENITYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Fucking brilliant album
i dont think this deserves to be ranked so high up
no…it does
Well actually it doesn’t
Honestly nobody really cares.
I don’t like the list either but it’s not like it’s screaming at you to agree.
I care!
…and it does.
Fuckin Killswitch came correct with the heavy shiznit like on no other album they’ve released since then.
I refuse to believe that any one metalcore band belongs on this list.
I refuse to believe that any one metalcore band belongs on this list twice.
I refuse to believe that any one metalcore band belongs on this list twice in the top 10.
I refuse to believe this list.
hideous album.
Amen.
Couldn’t agree more.
Fucking great album IMO.
Fabulous album. When I first heard this on a summer Roadrunner Records sampler I had never heard anything like it. I know the comments are going to talk shit how they got 2 discs in the top 6, but this one truely belongs here. If The End of Heartache deserves to be on the list, it should have been lower. If it didn’t have the Rose of Sharyn, it wouldn’t have made it at all. It would have been sweet if The Oncoming Storm took its place lower in the list.
Dude Im really surpised that Unearth didnt make it at all. Ah well (shrugs)
I’m never listened to a single note of this album. I’ll have to remedy that.
Um, I’VE never listened to a single note. Jeez.
So…I guess “Blackwater Park”, “As the Palaces Burn”, and “Leviathan” will be the rest?
I think you’re right.
Sacrament.
hint: its not sacrament
Sacrament = worst LoG album. So yeah it will probably be on the list. I really wasn’t expecting another KSE album on here…
Sacrament? That’s some kind of sick joke right?
Since when an album that has Walk With Me in Hell and Redneck on it is bad?
Sacrament is a great fucking album. + 1
Sacrament does have some great songs, but if another LoG album appears on this list, it has to be (and will be) As The Palaces Burn.
Sacrament is their best album.
Sacrament was probably the biggest disappointment of the decade. I’m just glad they’ve gotten back on track with Wrath.
Love both Sacrament and Wrath.
This album dominated my life for a long time. Awesome choice and obviously the voters thought so.
needs less Killswitch. and moar Meshuggah. if there’s no Meshuggah or Blackwater Park on this list im gonna throw an internet tantrum. and Korn is definitely coming. i can feel it.
but i have a feeling we’re not gonna see Blackwater Park. :(((((
Some Meshuggah, Blackwater Park and Korn would be fine by me :D. It would have to be Untouchables though, that’s the only really good album they’ve released this decade.
One of those choices should be COLORS !!!!
Damn better fucking be.
Metalcore again YAAAAAYYYYYYY.
Thank god, I was getting sick of all the great real metal albums on this list.
oops.
lol owned.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Seriously. I have no desire to even visit this site anymore, because i cringe at what i’m going to see as the next “metal” album entry. Where’s Cobalt, Isis, Peste Noire, Tyr, Wolves in the Throne Room, Behemoth, Boris, Deathspell Omega, Enslaved, Anaal Nathrakh, Baroness, Drudkh, High on Fire, Lifelover, Neurosis, etc, etc? Satan forbid we should have real, underground metal on here!
Cobalt, FUCK YES. Both ‘Eater of Birds’ and ‘Gin’ deserve to be on this without a doubt. As well as Deathspell Omega, same with all the other great bands you listed. Peste Noir will never be listed here….too good. at the beginning of this list, I though there was a chance for DsO to make it, seeing as they are distro’d by Southern Lord in the U.S. and get a decent amount of press (which is well deserved).
Those awesome bands are too underground to be on this list. I’d be surprised if half the people who voted on this had even heard of them by name. And for the record, there is no room for two Killswitch Engage albums anywhere. Period.
This list is what happens when you poll multiple people who either work for Roadrunner or wish they were signed to Roadrunner (I’m looking at you, Shads and GFB).
Survey says…(insert buzzer sound)
Roadrunner strikes again!
It’s become abundantly clear that this Roadrunner needs some coyote-action.
The only good Killswitch album.
Agreed. They weren’t ‘trying’ to write hit songs back then. The hooks were just there, and they worked.
Fingers are still crossed for Opeth’s ‘Blackwater Park’ to make the top three.
Thats a good way of putting it. I wish this was in place of The End of Heartache. Then there would be more room for other great stuff.
Amazing album.
I knew this would be high on the list. A littls surprised about The End of Heartache sitting at #6 though.
I agree, this definitely belongs on this list and totally helped get rid of nu-metal and helped pave the way for metal coming back to the mainstream. I didnt think The End of Heartache belonged on this list, since it is basically this record all over again, but i think KS is one of the top 20 metal bands of the past 10 years as far as their influence on metal in general.
I think we’re all a little surprised about this list in some fashion or another.
Killswitch Engage again? Twice in the top 6? Seriously? =/ This list was starting show a slight glimmer of hope with Converge. And now it’s gone.
ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, is this list compiled by people under the age of 19??? This should be called “My first 21 (debatable) Metal Albums”
I was thinking more:
Now Included With Every Happy Meal At McDonald’s….
Dumb joke, try again
pffft;
I was implying how this list should appeal to small children…
It has the Good Housekeeping Seal Of Approval.
Hell, you could buy every one of these titles at WalMart.
pfffffffffffffffft
I got what you meant
just not a good joke
OK, you win Ziltoid;
I mean, YOUR quips are waaaay more funny.
Perhaps “21 albums to introduce you to heavy music.”
Attic, I think you hit it right there. Most of these are great introductory albums, but I think a lot of them stand the test of time enough to be considered great metal albums.
Fuck NO
with a side order of no.
Also can I have an order of No, but with the the No on the side?
That way; I can dip my No into the No as I need it.
What’s the No Du Jour?
Have you got any No on-tap today?
Hell with it; I’ll just have the No then…
I LOL’d hard.
no yoo di-int
I sho did. Dat’s da troof.
How this album came on this list:
“Man people weren’t pissed enough at End of Heartache, what we can do ’bout this?”
“Well they do have other albums…”
“Wha’ about the one that doesn’t have the black guy?”
“Perfect”
How this album came on this list:
It’s better than the End of Heartache
:D
How this album came on this list:
People like shit music.
This is making me more certain that Blackwater Park is going to be #1.
3. Meshuggah – Nothing (or obZen)
2. Between the Buried And Me – Colors
1. Opeth – Blackwater Park
If Colors doesn’t make the list, I will be disappoint.
I only wish there was enough room left for all of those and Leviathan. Also, I’d rather see Catch 33 in there, but any Meshuggah will do at this point.
This album is better than Opeth’s Ghost Reveries?!?!??!?!?
Also Howard Jones > Jesse Leach.
Jesse Leach was to Killswitch Engage as Cliff Burton was to Metallica.
Wow. I agree a little bit, but I wouldn’t go THAT far.
I’m not comparing talent here, I’m saying that Killswitch had much better music with Jesse, like how Metallica had much better music with Cliff.
But needless to say, Jesse Leach is a far better vocalist than the melodramatic Howard Jones.
Ok, so everyone expected Leviathan and CTS to make the list, right? So that leaves one spot for all the other great albums of the decade?
#4? Really?? Over Ashes, Blackening, Lateralus, Clayman, Ghost Reveries??? Really?
Blackwater Park, Crack the Skye, and Leviathan? Booooooooorrriiiiingggg. Can’t believe there isn’t any Genghis, Dillinger, or Meshuggah on here. This site is now the worst metal site ever.
I wouldn’t give up on Meshuggah in the top 3. I am pissed that no one thought to vote for Dead Mountain Mouth and/or Cloak of Love. That is some seriously groundbreaking shit. And instead there are two 100% hardcore albums on here (Jane Doe and Perseverance). I don’t object at all to Lateralus or Toxicity, I still keep those albums in my rotation and even though it’s debatable they’re metal enough for the list. But come on. Hatebreed? Converge? That’s like denying the fact that metal and hardcore are two separate genres, or supporting their marriage which for the most part has produced nothing but ass material. I hear zero metal whatsoever in Hatebreed’s music, and a tiny tiny bit in Converge’s. Genghis Tron released three innovative and kickass metal albums, no one noticed. I don’t blame MetalSucks, but I absolutely blame the voters for ignoring some great albums.
So many good albums left off, so many. I’m now expecting God Forbid and BMTH to be in the top three . . . and both those bands suck more than chicks named Lohan
Fuck this album, it does not stand the test of time.
I believe the exact opposite of what you said.
What a wonderful world…
this is the ONLY album of the past ten years that will stand the test of time.
“You see this, kids? THIS is a troll. NO! Don’t acknowledge its presence. Just turn around and ignore it, and it will go away.”
Damn, I guess I really have no idea what good metal is. :(
Its not you, its them. This is what happens when you poll a bunch of metalcore peddling hipster hacks about ‘metal’.
If you don’t like the list/blog – you don’t have to fucking read it. Besides – since when Chris Adler or Eyal Levi or Brain Fair or Jason Bittner and fuckload of other on the judges list are “metalcore peddling hipster hacks”?
since when? they always have been. their entire fan base is made up of people under the age of 20……….these are the only people who really listen to this crap. Its trendy buddy, get with it.
I don’t listen because it’s trendy, I listen because it sounds good buddy, get with it.
It’s a good disc. The End of Heartache shouldn’t have been on the list, or it should have been lower 20’s. Sorry Biff
If there’s anything I’ve learned from reading everyone’s comments, it’s that once people pass the age of 25, they become extremely jaded elitist douchebags who truly decieve themselves into thinking that their tastes have matured, when in reality their musical tastes have gotten ridiculously narrow, giving them some sick sense of self-righteousness. Maturity means expanding your musical tastes, not cutting them down.
Well, this list sort of makes sense to me since most of the guys who are in current death metal/core/whatever bands, that i know personally, dont listen to much metal on a day to day basis.
My musical tastes have grown as I aged, not narrowed. However, this is crap, and I tend to call a spade a spade. This entire list is garbage, sans Opeth (and its their worst album by far).
Wow. Blow me.
WTF? KsE over Lamb Of God (I’ll hold back my personal love for In Flames here) again? Fuck…. Well, let’s how the top 3 looks. Not that anyone has to prove something to me, but I predict that Crack The Skye, The Way of All Flesh, Fortress (PTH) or Wrath are going to be in the top 3
Leviathan has to make the list. It would have been ok if only Leviathan and CTS made the list, but putting BM on and leaving leviathan off. Fuck.
Take Shadows Fall, Hatebreed, both Killswitch albums, Deftones and Blood Mountain off (I like it, but I expected three Mastodon albums max with CtS and Leviathan on the list) and there are now six open spots to be filled with good albums that could give this list some respectability
This post is the truth
come on now…how many voters had time to get to know crack duh skye before voting? i doubt its showing up. leviathan yes.
I actually still listen to this record on a semi regular basis, My Last Serenade is on my favorite songs of all time. I really hope Colors made the list though. Not that it really matters. The whole point of this list was draw up conversation. debate, and an overall spike in hits for the site.
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
I was willing to accept one crappy metalcore band at #20. But fuck this, FUUUUUUCK this
prepare yourselves for death magnetic at #1…
I’m calling #1: Waking the Cadaver
Sorry, I actually like most of the albums on this list.
YES! This list needs more wigger slam.
THE MUSICAL IS BACK!!
That’s my line!
Yup; I know it.
But it suits Death Magnetic perfectly; for the rest of my days on this planet, I will always say that when ever anybody ever mentions that POS album…
So feel good about it.
CRACK THE SKYE will not be on this list. It was likely compiled before the album was even released.
“…the album is great. People forget that sometimes things become trendy because they were actually cool. Alive or Just Breathing was – is – genuinely, 110% cool. It’s not the band’s fault that so many of the groups that came after them sucked.”
EXACTLY.
This album kicks all kinds of ass. And yes, it’s metal – metal as fuck. Never could get into KsE much after this, but man… great album.
This should switch places with The End of Heartache.
EXACTLY
I’m thinking more along the lines of replace it, battle it out with one of the LoG albums, and drop about 15 spots on the list.
This is worrying, it’s getting close to #1 and there are too many good albums to fit between there and #4…
I wanna see some Nile on this list! In their darkened shrines!
you and me both…but it aint gonna happen…
This list was a joke from the get go, but at least it was funny for awhile. Putting two (2!) Killswitch Engage records in the top ten is not only ridiculous but sad. If this is what passes for quality metal in the 21st Century, I need to find a time machine to go back twenty years when shit like this would have been laughed at.
Metalcore is the ‘00 equivalent of hair metal in the 80s. Bullshit consumerist music meant to appeal to as many people as possible.
well said , well said. Its trendy crap, and actually WORSE than hair metal in my opinion. at least hair metal gets the chicks dancing on the bar during “Cherry Pie” and “Pour some sugar on me”, and its good for a laugh. Metalcore has no redeaming value whatsoever besides selling records to ignorant kids who will jump on the next fad as soon as MetalSucks and Decible tell them what it is.
Why are you here, Biff? Honestly, I hope it really boosts your ego to come show all of us “ignorant kids” what “real metal” is.
Your inability to distinguish between a band like Converge and a band like Killswitch shows your own ignorance. If it’s all “metalcore” to you, you’re not really listening. And I’m sure you don’t care to, ’cause if anyone under 20 is listening to it, it just must not be good.
If you don’t like it, fine. I just don’t understand why you’re so insistent on coming here and shitting all over any of the selections. Your criticisms are simple-minded and relatively weak; you speak of the people who listen to the music more than the music itself. If you just can’t stand the idea of new movements, new trends, new ideas (for better or worse–I admit it’s often for worse but that’s the nature of experimentation)… don’t go on the internet. The latest thing rules here, in case you hadn’t noticed. The thing is, sometimes the newest thing is actually pretty cool.
Now, to be fair… there is a lot of shitty metalcore out there, because it is popular with the kids, and there’s more money in it than other kinds of metal. Lots of kids listen to it, so lots of kids want to play it; you get an explosion of cookie-cutter bands, and because there is money in it, the labels snatch them up. I would totally agree that this aspect of the whole thing sucks. But statements like “Metalcore has no redeaming value whatsoever” are so general and so oversimplified…. it just doesn’t make you look very bright.
Oh, and misspelling “redeeming” doesn’t help your cause.
What you don’t understand, is that there are surely thousands of albums released this decade (most of them crap) but that you’re more ignorant if you can only differentiate bands like KSE and Converge than if you can’t differentiate only them. Metal is really alive, why metalcore is trendy is because a couple of bands managed to get popular and labels thought it would be the new thing hence gave them full support (with tours and all) as well as new bands in that style. Mainstream metal is only a very small percentage of the whole metal scene. There isn’t only metalcore, deathcore or groove metal, but: power, thrash, black, death, prog, doom, symphonic, grind and any between, under, over or any regional differentiations there are. There are tons of people under 20 listening to real, good metal. There are kids who were 13 and whose favorite band was Bathory (heard of that).
And have you ever noticed the guys voting are FROM the scene or supporting it? Have you noticed they probably don’t listen to other bands than the more popular ones? Have you ever thought, that in a top 21 seeing a couple of bands have 2 of their albums strange? If you don’t think so, is because you don’t know much bands. 21 best albums from the new century? 21 albums is nothing, so much that you’d have big time trouble choosing over this and that album from that band and this and that album from 2 different bands. When I make lists, I list 3 times or so the number needed, that’s because there are dozens of albums that kicks as much ass. And usually, if you don’t have trouble choosing positions in your list, it’s because you don’t listen too much of the music, when I make a list, most of the time I just write not in order. If you don’t know more than 40 bands and try to say: “Well the new thing may actually be good”, it’s probably because you only know the new thing. I have heard enough bands to say, there’s no chosen ones, no bands whose superiority is undeniable. Talent isn’t a so rare thing, you know.
“if you can only differentiate bands like KSE and Converge than if you can’t differentiate only them”
I don’t really know what this means; I can differentiate between bands like KSE and Converge, and I can differentiate between other bands and KSE, and other bands and Converge. My point was that I try not to apply labels like “metalcore” in an overly general way, and certainly not as a way of critiquing their music, because these labels often carry connotations that may not be fair. This doesn’t really happen with other genre labels; most people don’t make assumptions about the quality of music when you say a band plays death or black metal.
I get the impression you think I ONLY listen to metalcore and am fully unaware of other styles of metal, which is simply untrue, and I’m not sure what I said to give you that impression. I enjoy to varying degrees nearly all the different styles you mentioned (though I sometimes struggle with power metal–the cheese factor can be a bit much).
“There are tons of people under 20 listening to real, good metal. There are kids who were 13 and whose favorite band was Bathory (heard of that).”
“Real” metal… this is a totally meaningless phrase. Don’t get me wrong, I know what you’re trying to say by that, but it’s elitist, close-minded bullshit. However, I agree–there are lots of young people listening to good music, and I never said anything to the contrary. And yes, I know Bathory.
As far as this list… well, I have my issues with it as well. I agree with you, there is not nearly enough variety, and I do think that reflects on who is in the panel. Really my only point was that the kinds of things Biff Tannen spews out are narrow-minded and simple, and really just hurt the metal community as a whole.
Fair enough, I may have jumped on the sword too fast. Sure I don’t like what I call “mainstream” crap, it’s just that even if I could find good things in it, I think there are so much bands who prove to be much more better and talented than those, enough so that none of those bands would be in such list.
‘“Real” metal… this is a totally meaningless phrase.’
You could not be more wrong. There is a huge difference between “real” metal and most of the albums that have made this list so far. “Real” metal is far more than just the music: it’s the attitude, the lifestyle, the je ne sais quoi that you learn to recognize after listening to “real” metal for a long long time. It either is or isn’t, and almost everything on this list isn’t.
“Real” metal is only made in Europe at this point I think that you “metal scholars” are forgetting the first “metal” bands started in the 70’s and are vastly different than anyone on here has talked about so far.
The problem is some of you have you head up metalcore’s butts and refuse to acknowledge that the musicc is largely generic despite an occassional stand-out band that is either loosely tied into the genre or is a throwback to the days when commercialism and metallic hardcore were not hand-in-hand.
The rest of you are just as bad you just are elitists with you head up symphonic death metal, black metal, grindore, etc’s butt. The fact is a lot of that music is very trite as well. It just isn’t as well known. I have heard countless numbers of death metal bands trying to maintain relevancy by following the blastbeat, solo, death metal breakdown (I acknowledge that this is different than the hardcore/metalcore breakdown) formula.
All that said screw elitism. Like what YOU like and let everyone else like what THEY like. Sometimes what they are into will be crap, but sometimes what you like may just be another form of fesces too.
DJ ARNOLD definately hit the nail on the goddam head so perfectly that I have nothing to say
test 1-2
The thing fucked up.
Being called an elitist is always funny, as I post in forums populated by elitists(meaning: they really don’t like -core and groove) yet some call others elitists or poseurs. I myself am called poseur because I think Mutiilation is shit.
As for “elitists” band always doing the same, it’s not true. Sure they may be only hundreds out thousands and thousands, but there are tons of bands who branch out and try new things, who really differentiate themselves from the roots. Maybe a little too strong example, but you know Sigh? Not a single album (save from their first) can be closely compared to another band, and none of them sound alike. All their albums released this decade would be far more relevant than any on this list. Yet they are still overlooked by “elitists”.
And I’m so elitist and close minded I like tons of non metal stuff.
Bathory sucks balls.
@Tim: “‘Real’ metal is far more than just the music:” This is exactly what I’m talking about. Why the fuck do you care? Sure, it’s nice when a band exhibits an attitude or a lifestyle that you agree with, but that’s just gravy. This is supposed to be about music. Fuck your “je ne sais quoi.” If the music’s good, I’m on board.
When this CD came out it wasn’t trendy crap. Nothing else sounded like it. (Now I’m sure you’ll give an example of some bands that did, but none of them were heard by America like this disc.)
This man knows what the fuck is up. High five!
Hair metal was way more commercial than metalcore. If metalcore’s sole purpose was to sell albums, they wouldn’t be growling and screaming all the time. This album took me a little while to get warmed up to, but once I did, I now appreciate its greatness.
Although I don’t know if its impact was as huge as people are making it out to be. Maybe I was too young when this came out/not into metal enough, but I didn’t hear all that much about it at the time.
Playing the Devil’s advocate here, but growling and screaming is rebellious, and rebellious kids dig that stuff. I know a couple of people from where I work who like only listen to deathcore and are like: “Whoa listen to this, it’s so brootal” and the more brutal and all, the more they like it. Brutal and violent stuff is popular among scene kids.
As far as hair metal being more commercial, that’s debatable. Granted metalcore isn’t played on Top 40 radio like power ballads were, but this shit is just as insidious an its appeal is just as broad, if not more so. Prepackaged and safe rebellion always sells well, as witnessed by this witless list.
Oh, please. All That Remains and Killswitch Engage are the two bands that got me INTO metal. And the only two metal bands that everyone knows are Bullet for my Valentine and Killswitch Engage (all right, so there’s Metallica and Megadeth, but I’m talking about heavy metal, not thrash). The shit is GOOD and that’s why so many people KNOW about it and LIKE it. You’re all “fuck commercialism!” yeah, well, it sucks some of the ways it works, but how ELSE are people gonna find out about shit? “Oh, I’m just gonna sit back and hope someone buys my record.” Yeah fuckin’ right. These guys are amazing, and they totally deserve this. I wouldn’t be surprised to see ATR or BFMV next on this list. I listen to Children of Bodom, Cradle of Filfth, Slipknot, Abigail Williams, As I Lay Dying, The Absence, Ankla, Iced Earth, whatever sounds good. And I have to say. Killswitch sounds fuckin’ beast.
Wow. You listen to an incredible number of terrible bands. Good for you admitting it though, that’s a start at least.
good music jonathan…
and H2O, list some of albums that are better than this.
Cant do it yourself? Dont like half of the albums he just named, but most are better then the obscure shit your about to name
From the 21st century of course
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwsbJXpnaW0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KlRifysgGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_iqwOVxewo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muWkwj1xUmw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13NQG8mQagw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpnMnG3kH1U&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7ZWeowfPl4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4-SXOnDzxg
I don’t feel like posting 20 links
Great picks H20. Props for giving Angel Dust some love.
I believe H20 did give his “list” a few days ago in one of the ‘top 21′ threads. It was well rounded and contained many, many good bands. It was not all ‘obscure shit’…some of it was, and a lot of it is well known in the metal community because of word of mouth, not advertising. And, regarding my previous post- I did not mean that kids under 20 don’t listen to good ‘real’ or classic metal. What I was saying is that I’ve never,ever met anyone into 99% of the bands on this list that is over the age of 20. This really is ‘beginner’ metal. And if it acts like a gateway to get kids into real metal, thats cool, Im all for it. But you will never see people that have been into metal for more than 5 years or so into this stuff.
“But you will never see people that have been into metal for more than 5 years or so into this stuff.”
Wrong. Dead wrong. Most people I know in REAL life, not the internet, who are well over the age of 20 and grew up in the thrash era of the 80s go absolutely apeshit for some of these bands. Lamb of God in particular are really big among that crowd, they love that shit way more than I do and I’m only 21. I have a group of friends who actually saw Iron Maiden on their Somewhere In Time tour and I took them to a Mastodon show. They said it was by far one of the best metal shows they’ve seen in years. Most real old-school metalheads aren’t into extreme or underground metal at all, from my experience. And all of these guys drool over Tool. So you’re just completely mistaken.
Waitaminute… so now “thrash” bands arent metal, but Killswitch and All That Remains are?!
I’m not attacking your taste in bands, you’ve got some good shit in there… but that statement was NOT thought out at all.
I think he meant thrash as in thrash metal. He knows damn well that thrash is a sub-genre of metal. I like this album a lot, although I don’t think it should be this high on the list. Killswitch Engage is definitely a band I like to call “Gateway” metal, they’re a type of band that gets people intrested in metal that usually wouldn’t be. I think that is what makes them so good, they get non-metal people to get it. As for the disputes on what bands are considered metal and which aren’t, metal was a term invented by journalists to describe Black Sabbath, no musician ever invented that term and I doubt many bands stop in the middle of songwriting to debate if the section they are writing is “metal” or not. I say everyone should listen to whichever bands make them happy and as for the “metal-core/scene” kids, they used to annoy me but they don’t anymore, we all had our stupid phases so I shouldn’t judge them for theirs and hopefully they’ll really get into the MUSIC more than the trendy style and actually learn how to play instruments and grow as musicians and music lovers. Hopefully they’ll start great bands that will have people debating in 10-20 years.
@Damienk: Oh, God no! I respect thrash tremendously. It’s just that they don’t implement the screaming vocals very often, which is the type of metal most people here I’ve observed listen to. I see a lot of “Fuck Metallica/Slipknot/Kse/BfmV” on here. Frankly, I just see a lot of “Fuck metalcore and deathcore.”
But I can’t take my metal without a tint of melody, which quite a few metalcore bands use in their style. I think if I had to name one band I listen to that never uses clean vocal styles it’d be Amon Amarth. I mean, I still listen to Daath, Behemoth, Gojira, Iced Earth, Mastodon, Meshuggah, and so on. If I had to agree on one genre to hate, it’d be deathcore. Winds of Plague… is… man, bits and pieces here and there sound great, but overall, it’s just terrible.
@ chinnymac: Yeah. Killswitch is definately gateway metal, going by your definition. All That Remains and Bullet fit there as well. Like I said to Damienk, there’s other stuff too, but these guys are what did me into the metal scene. And if they can turn a guy who’d been playing classical piano and brass instruments for 9 years (almost 11 now,) with little other musical exposure than being forced to practice? That deserves respect in my book.
lol once again fuck the haters this is a GREAT album
This is laughable. WTF(?!)
Should I just call-in the Launch Codes now?
I was thinking that Corpse Magnetic would probably be #1, but now I think it’ll be U2.
KsE is good, but better than Ghost Reveries, Remission, Blood Mountain, and Lateralus? Fuck no. This list has lost even more credibility (if that’s possible).
I’m still hoping that someone says “This list is a joke, here’s the real list!”
Or that St. Anger is #1.
St. Anger being #1 would make my day. I might die of laughter.
Do you people just copy paste comments from comments on previous albums?
It’s so fucking repetitive..
There is no fucking way that this album, let alone any Killswitch album is better than Ashes of the Wake or Ghost Reveries.
If you look at all of the people who they asked for this list it shouldnt suprise you that there isnt much extreme/death metal stuff on here. Everyone they asked is a fan of or is in a modern thrash/metalcore mainstream band. If you asked the bands at Maryland Death Fest about their top twenty, I am sure it would be COMPLETELY different. This is such a broad list, it is hard to choose only 20 in all of metal.
Wow, that’s an interesting choice. I think most people will be shocked at what the top 3 will be. Fucking crazy!
Replace “shocked” with “pissed” and I think you’ve got it right
1. i discovered this album on Pandora a while ago and recognized it had some awesomeness, but i had no idea it was “THE DEFINITIVE METALCORE ALBUM” lol.
2. the artist name “killswitch engage” on this album is misleading. it is a different band entirely.
3. WHERE ARE
THE WAY OF ALL FLESH (this blog got such a huge boner for this album)
CRACK THE SKYE (one of two 5 out of 5s)
FORTRESS (the OTHER 5 out of 5)
Oh wait– MS isn’t creating this list. but w/e… they’re still great albums.
GOSH. This list is quite imbalanced.
shut up you dont know what youre talking about shut up shut up shut up
No Slayer
No Meshuggah
No more Roadrunner salt-free diet crap.
This album fucking rules. Should be # 1 in my opinion.
aaand that shows what you know…2 things…jack…and shit
He knows that he like the album very much. Though I don’t agree, everyone is entitled to their opinion
yo i got it…
look at the judges:
the number one album will be
PSYCHOSTICK’S SANDWICH!!! ahhhhhhh
A pretty good band, as far as I’ve been listening to it. First time I heard them, it immediately reminded me of Soilwork. I don’t really know who really made it first, but it would be fair if Soilwork were in this list, on the top 3 (I don’t think this is gonna happen, anyway). Natural Born Chaos or Figure Number Five would be nice picks.
And man, I think there’s no point in considering year 2000 part of 21st century if DEAD HEART IN A DEAD WORLD doesn’t show up in this list.
Nevermore FTMFW son!!!!
So true!
chainheart or predators portrait > those you listed
STEELBATH SUICIDE! Still my favorite of theirs. Everything after Predator’s is lame.
there is no question that leviathan is number one blackwater park is number 2 and 3 should probably be miss machine by dillinger
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……….”…\………. _.·´
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well said.
couldnt have said it better myself (if i agreed)
Tis beautiful!
i really dig this site and generally respect the opinions herein, but this is absurd. kse is ok. at best. they’re fun guys and easy to root for, but they make the most boring fucking tunes ever. the best thing they have ever done is cover holy diver. there are so many bands that put out quality, groundbreaking records that won’t even be mentioned. i.e. meshuggah, who have 2 of the most amazing, forward thinking records with obzen and nothing. obviously both won’t get on this list, but these clowns already have, and to be this high up is a just plain tragedy. other bands, such as nevermore, strapping young lad, satyricon, cynic, emperor, mayhem, enslaved, dillinger escape plan, and between the buried and me (to name just a few) who have put out records that kids will be listening to for years to come, will go unmentioned. i was really looking forward to seeing the #4 pick all day, and now i’m just annoyed. thanks guys
I sympathize…checking this list has become part of my end-of-the-workday routine and today is sorely disappointing. #4? Really? C’mon people!
should be #1
Agreed
Is this list called “mediocre bland metalcore that inspired a generation of more mediocre bland metalcore”? I didn’t think it was but you seem to think it deserves to be #1 so that must be what it is.
Fuck Killswitch Engage and fuck this list
Woohoo…more bland metalcore for the list… still can’t believe I’m seeing two KSE albums in the top 10 over all the other great metal albums out there.
Im actually surprised this album isnt higher up on the list. It was the album that got me into metal in the first place so i guess its kinda special for me, but i still put it on from time to time and find it just as intense as the first time i heard it. The incredible riffs, the pure emotion in Jesse Leach’s voice, the catchy hooks…makes me wanna bang my head every time. Amazing album from an amazing band!
And the top 3 are
#3 Green Day- American Idiot
#2 U2- How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
#1 50 Cent- Get Rich or Die Tryin’
probably
#3 Black Eyed Peas – Elephunk
#2 Beck – Guero
#1 Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Don’t You Fake It
more bullshit on the list. the singers sister came to my old school in early 06 and came to say some shit about how not to live a rockstar life like this and how much he hated being in this band, and i remember all the girls talking about how they liked kse before we went to see him.
so this album is really great metal right?
Jesse left the band because he got pussy-whipped. At least, that’s the most popular rumor. Others say he found God, but then he could’ve just joined a Tooth and Nail band or something.
Admitedly, I liked this album a lot when it first came out, before the oversaturation of this “sound.” I also think KSE is the best at what they do (ie. biting Gothenburg). That being said, this is WAY too high on the list and would still be too high if it had replaced EOTH…which is a terribly mediocre record. I can see putting them on here, but christ, one is enough, ya know?
KSE might be the best at taking Gothenburg metal and turning into lifeless boring shit, but why does that matter when you could just listen to actual Gothenburg? This whole genre is pointless.
Agree completely.
I was really hoping for:
Between the Buried and Me’s Colors
The Faceless’ Planetary Duality
Meshuggah’s obZen
At very fucking least. Any of those and I would feel a little bit better.
True that.
i think anything from the last year or two is probably not going to get popular support from this group of voters. thats just how it works.
i would vote for obZen though. btbam needs a real vocalist and the faceless just dont deserve a mention.
Sad, very sad…
How the hell are there two Killswitch Engage albums in the top 6, Whaaaaaaat the fuck
I love that everyone in here is so sensitive.
it is funny…I am ashamed to admit that I was actually really disappointed when I checked the list today. Not sure why…
I wasn’t disappointed; I just laughed. By this point, if anyone’s taking this list seriously, they need to go outside and get some fresh air.
Fresh air might be the right prescription my friend. I hope to get some over the long holiday weekend. As for KSE landing two top 10 spots on what is ultimately supposed to be a fun and incosequential list…I am disappointed, but it’s not going to ruin my day
You should be dissapointed because someone may find this list and think it’s not a joke
“Mummy some one called me a cunt because i said they listen to bad music i’m going to my room to cry and listen to My Chemical Toilet”
One spot was enough for KSE.
The first spot was one too many. Now all hell will break loose
Ugh. This list is boring.
AS THE PALACES BURN DESERVES NUMBER ONE SPOT. AOJB DESERVES THIS SPOT!!!
i hate this album and i hate leach’s voice…
Ahh… The good ol’ Killswitch days with Jesse Screech on vocals.
Damn, already #4 and STILL no sight of Chris Cornell’s Scream. This is a crazy thought, but I am beginning to think it might not make the list…..
Don’t worry dude, it’s probably #1.
You are all a bunch of whinny, douche bags. This list isn’t boring, ALL OF YOUR NOT-SO-WITTY COMMENTS ARE RATHER BORING!
So is yours
Amen.
There are still window seats available on the bus to Fuckoffityland.
Great album. Deserves Top 20 of the decade, but not #4. I would’ve replaced TEOH with this and been fine. Not that anyone cares but for my 2 cents……
3 – Blackwater Park
2 – Leviathon
1 – The Way of All Flesh
Your top 3- In this order or any order- is exactly what I am hoping for. You listen to some good fucking metal.
This is the worst list ever.
Seriously.
All I can say about them is their cover of Holy Diver sucked balls.
Actually….. It is one the better covers ever done!
^ this come back is quite witty ^….and since you think that dc…you suck balls
Holy Diver wasn’t on AOJB
I personnally think the top 3 albums should be Protest The Hero’s Fortress, Strapping Young Lad’s Alien and Meshuggah’s Nothing.
I’ll kick my computer if every fucking Mastodon album is on this list… Seriously…
First: I’m not saying they’re not good, they’re a good band and everything, but they’re not good enough to have every single one of their albums on this list.
Second: it would just prove that the voters chose the most popular band on the scene and decided to make free publicity (or maybe not so free…)
With more known bands, has no one noticed Maiden, Testament, Motorhead and Heaven and Hell (black sabbath) have released albums this decade?
I’ve noticed, and if it was up to me, Maiden’s releases would take the top 3 spots.
Agreed. At least AMOLAD and Dance of Death…. Brave New World had wwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much chorus repetition. just listen to the title track. “In our brave new world, our brave new world” 45 fucking times.
Don’t get me wrong, Maiden is my ALL TIME favorite band, and my house is covered in maiden flags and records on the walls, not to mention my Maiden tattoos. But, BNW is the worst Maiden album since the reunion IMO.
I know Dance of Death is one of the least liked album since the reunion, but it’s one of my favorite albums ever. I do agree with the chorus repetition on BNW though. Although, once you get to “Out of the Silent Planet”, it really doesn’t bother me too much.
I think that Brave New World went a long way towards introducing a whole new generation to Maiden, who might not have listened to the older records because they weren’t “edgy” enough or some bullshit. I think they deserve credit for being a band that sort of reestablished themselves as one of the leading forces in heavy metal.
Yeah, that Testament album is better than 2/3 of the albums listed.
No that I agree with this statement in relation to this list, but Formation Of Damnation was pretty epic
That Nachtmystium record is hallucinogenic black metal majesty. The rest of the bands listed have much better albums (In flames, Opeth, Tool) and a lot of the rest of this list is hilarious. When are we going to have a real list?
I don’t know if In Flames has a better record that meets the requirements of this list
Phhhfft ahahahahah!! A couple random lazer sounds qualifies as “hallucinogenic black metal majesty” to you? Jeeeeezzzzz. You should get in line to suck Blake Judd’s cock, he’ll let you.
This list needs more Maiden. Well, if anything, this list has schooled me in the most popular -core acts. I’m still not into the type of music, but some of them aren’t too bad. Unearth was about the only metalcore band I was familiar with before this list, and I couldn’t stand them.
Killswitch is on the better end of metalcore. And only their first couple of albums. Most of it really does suck ass.
OH GOD THERE ARE FIVE DOZEN PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET WHO COMPILED A LIST AND I CAN’T UNDERSTAND IT WHYWHYWHY CAN’T THESE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY
My list:
…
Oh no, I listen to shitty music as well! I have no qualifications to even have my name be in any form of electronic media! HO DOG WHAT HAVE I DONE!
Moral of the story: I don’t like Killswitch Engage, but whatever.
Fuck yes.
Reading shit about people hoping that this album or that album better be one the list, as if they had a personal vested interest in it, is great. It’s as if there’s a prize involved (other than smug self satisfaction).
“GASP! “Blackwater Park” made it! I won a Kia Borrego! And it’s sage! My favorite color! Wooohoo! Blowjobs for all!!!”
People whining about omissions are basically outwardly manifesting a lapse of confidence. It’s overcompensation for something lacking in themselves.
“Pffft. They forgot XXXXXXXXX. They obviously don’t know shit, and I know, because no one is more metal than me. I’m so metal I throw compasses out of whack. I’m so metal I was born with corpsepaint on. I’m so metal my boyfriend plows me in the ass with a titanium dildo…errr…. etc…”
It’s a sad plea for validation. I for one am glad some shit I love hasn’t made this list. That makes it special, and thus, that makes it feel like it’s uniquely mine!
hahaha
* high five! *
Smartest comment here, and most hilarious too.
hahahahahahaahhaha
CLASSIC!
Every sentence in the 4th paragraph deserves a rimshot.
I’ll be chuckling to myself for weeks with the compass bit…
haha, nice twist with the dildo joke
Have I named albums I want to make this list? Yes.
Did I laugh at your post? Yes.
hands down the best comment!!
Okay it should be :
3. SYL – Alien
2. Mastodon – Leviathon
1. Opeth – Blackwater park
But I suspect something surprising may come up… and KSE, TWO in the top fucking ten? Above blackening, ashes, lateralus? Im sorry but just no, Killswitch have never been a definitive band to me at all.
fuck this list, its fucking terrible. wheres dream theater, cynic, children of bodom, iron maidne, megadeth, and arch enemy? no just more bull shit like mastodon im sure, comin up. and probably opeth cd, tho opeth does kick ass, and death magnetic.
fuck this list.
for one cob megadeath are complete and utter shit ( my oponion) arch enemy hasnt releasedanything good since Anthems of Rebellion ive not had a chance to listen to rotT as i decided to not buy it and otehr than that take your dave mustaine fanboy-ness and gtfo your ruining my gloating over this well deserved spot
Yes they did it’s called Doomsday Machine. And I don’t like anthems of rebelion..
Opinions rules.
You talk shit on Mastodon yet you think melodeath by the numbers Arch Enemy should be on here? Get the fuck out. The list is pretty decent except for the inclusion of the Killswitch albums. The only album that’s going to be left out that I really don’t think should be left out is This Godless Endeavor. Then again, the list doesn’t “have” to be any certain way. We’re basically getting it from a bunch of Roadrunner employees so what do you expect?
i talked shit on mastodon? provide proof sir
Not you. Taogwhatever his name is.
ya fuck mastodon they are way over rated. they are generic prog metal. opeth cynic and dream theater is where its at. and seriously you think cob are shit? you realy dont know shit about music.
TWO KSE albums in the top TEN!? Sigh. One on the list would have been plenty.
If this list has any credibility left, it can get rid of it all by putting “As Daylight Dies” on the list as well. Hell, make “As Daylight Dies” number one! I mean, KSE is the best heavy metal act of our generation, right? :/
On a side note, I think any votes by members of Psychostick should be discounted. Are these guys considered an authority on heavy music?
Yeah, I don’t understand where Psychostick came from either. It’s not even like they’ve been in the music scene for a while (have they? I don’t care enough to check). Did Axl and Vince feel like they needed someone who had an authority on horrible metal? If so it seems like most of the people polled for the list knows a lot about shitty metal.
Ok I’m now predicting Dead by April to be #1
Metalsucks, I challenge you to poll your readers’ Top 21 Metal Albums of the 21st Century!
I second this!
i dont doubt they will do it if they can figure out a reasonable way to count the votes.
I concur.
Some people keep asking about criteria by which this list was picked – maybe we could supply them with some ideas (ie: sales, live performances, influence, album art, etc). I’d love to see readers polled on “Best Metal Album Cover of All-Time”.
PS: This pick was shit!
I figured they would probably have a thread where people can post their top 21… It would be interesting if they counted them up after a week or so and published our picks. I have no doubt it would be pretty different from this list, and probably better.
Wow……………This list is getting shittier by the RANK………Blackwater Park, Obzen, Levaithan……….should round up the top 3……As the palaces burn maybe too….
Considering this list has judges like Shadows Fall, August Burns Red…………….its makes it more easy for me to blow off this list………….Metalcore please die asap and take Deathcore….(Fill in the blanks)Core with ya…
Metalcore doesn’t need to die…Just don’t listen to it. =/ Alot of people like it, so if it doesn’t suit your tastes just ignore it. Or oh, I’m sorry, did the metalcore ruin your precious top 21 metal albums list? Big deal.
Dude…….FYI >I dont listen to Metalcore…………I just hate the fact that Metalcore bands are in a Metal Album List……….Metalcore is not Metal…plain and simple and it doesnt belong in this list…
Peace !!!
Gojira – The Way of All Flesh……………anyone? Who cares………its on my list………
Agreed
god i love that album
Yeah, I’d probably put it on my list.
Someone was smoking crack when they did this list.
I think the list would have included some more interesting picks had crack cocaine been involved.
Then it would probably involve even shittier stuff like > A7X, Atreyu & All that remain….the 3 A’s of MetalWHORE……………ohhh…..sorry….i mean Metalcore
Seriously…these core bands have basterdised Metal and the funny thing being they actually have no idea what the Real Hardcore sound was all about….it wasnt just breakdowns……
Goddamn trend-followers…………these guys have actually given America a bad name….A country that gave birth to Thrash, Death, Groove Metal sub-genres………..Sigh….my sympathy lies with The US of A…….
If BTBAM’s Colors isnt on here, I’m going apeshit.
I would like to see that too, but I just don’t see it happening, man. I would go ahead assume the apeshit position.
Alaska shits on Colors
Great album.
The End of Heartache should NOT have been on this list. This is where it’s at!
hey, you guys notice how ziltoid doesnt comment here anymore.?..hehehehe. Metalsucks drove em out.
Im sure hes made some new friends over at blabbermouth.
He’s under an assumed name somewhere
Yup.
There HAS been a few posts that sorta sound like his Elitist Bullshit.
Careful… “Zitload of Spite” minus a few letters is an anagram of “Ziltoid.” haha
I’ve never seen a poster get so much attention, you KNOW he’s got a new name, and just loves the fact that he’s being mentioned so much.
LET IT GO
Nah, he said he’d be lurking but refraining from posting for a while. Looks like he’s been good on his word so far.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Can we all just agree that this list needs some Pig Destroyer? : )
Terrifyer!!!!!
Phantom limb!!!
Ugh. If you think Phantom Limb is better than Prowler in the Yard, you should go to an audiologist.
But yeah … this list needs Pig Destroyer! Prowler is in my top ten.
Awesome album.
Im going to THEPRP.COM. None of this gay worship and complaining about gay worship over there..just the straight dope.
DONE!
this album does deserve to be on this list, buti guess these guys really arent fans of death metal, seriously…no behemoth?
Yea………….wheres The Apostasy & Demi”Motherfuckin”God…………..2 solid albums better than atleast 10 albums in the list………….
demigod easily beasts all these albums so far
This list makes for a great laugh. ;p
how many more spots in the list belong to killswitch and lanb of god…. DEP – MISS MACHINE #1
i never knew i was so out of touch with the metal scene. i think thats why i feel disappointed by these two KSE albums. i dont listen to them so now i feel old.
the omission of gateways to annihilation is tragic.
This is finally something I agree with
more opeth, please
I am once again going to complain that nothing by Nevermore made the list. At all.
The problem with metal having such a huge range of styles and sub genres within itself is that there’s far too many elitist fuckwit supremacists that follow along.
Putting together an argument that perpetually consists of: “metalcore sucks lol…..so do the 19 year olds who listen to it because they’re not l337 tr00 br00tal metal heads by proxy of their age lol…we’re so smart and older and knowledgeable.”
Shut the fuck up. Hating metalcore is trendier than metalcore itself you bunch of fucking posers.
I regularly visit sites like this and theprp.com to hear about upcoming metal bands; I don’t give a fuck what genre they are or who they’re ripping off or how many bands they sound like. I listen to all styles of metal as I’m sure lots of other dudes here do, if it sounds good for what it is that’s a tick in my book and off to the C.D store I go. I love plenty of metalcore bands and dislike a lot of others, not for being metalcore but just for not making a flavour of music I like.
Simply being metalcore does not make a band shit by definition; you arguing otherwise makes you a shit person by definition. The same can be said of deathcore.
Sick of hearing all the raving about how narrow minded these selectors are, well how fucking narrow minded are half of you cunts?
Alive Or Just Breathing. Fucking GREAT album, glad to see it here. In my top fifteen. Right up there along side Vital Remains’ “Dechristianize.” (OMG i can lyk death metal AND metalcore *outrageous face lol*)
Curious to see what makes it onto numero 3.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thank you!
Fuck yeah greatly put
Very well said
You just won the internet.
Well played, sir.
you are a fucking retard. “Hating metalcore is more trendy than metalcore itself”. Get the fuck out of here. So, because I don’t like the flavor of the month style played by bands that jump up and down, have frotsy hair tips and emo haircuts , Im trendy?? I hated it the SECOND I heard this shit at a Slayer concert 9 or 10 years ago…..the second the kiddies started to “jump da fuck up” I knew that a horrible plague was about to decend on metal, just as the nu-metal fad did. Ever wonder why lots of online distro’s DONT carry this kind of stuff? Because its fucking gay, vanilla, powder puff fake metal.
the man has a point
Hell yeah man…………thats the shit right there….
80’s > Glam Metal
Early 90’s > Grunge
Late 90s > Nu-Metal
00’s > Metalcore
The trend is always gonna be there………….Taking a formula and beating it to death……thats what it is….No one’s gonna remember “Core” bands 10 years from now…….
Wasn’t aware that every person who likes metalcore was a “kiddie” and has goofy ass hair. Nice sweeping generalization that completely fails. Jump da fuck up? Really? I can tell you often visit metal-archives… probably where you get your definition of metal. You realize that PEOPLE run that site not some all-knowing metal gods? They took btbam off that site, emmure was also on that site for a while… jesu is on that site..while i love jesu, btbam is more deserving to be on a “metal” site than them. Excellent definition of metal if you ask me. A lot of “metalcore” bands that ignorant people lump in that genre sound completely fucking different. Dep really sounds like shadows fall? BTBAM Really sounds like unearth? The dude above brought up a good point and you completely failed to refute it.
+1
#6, everyone complains that this album isn’t on the list
#4 rolls around, everyones bitching that its on the list. make up your minds folks
I don’t think it’s the same people. Just sayin
I’m calling it now: the top 3 will consist of atreyu, avenged sevenfold, and trivium. if there were any justice in the world it would instead consist of opeth, dream theater, cynic or btbam, but there isn’t, so we get more metalcore.
avenged sevenfold and trivium arent metalcore just so ya know. avenged = hard rock
trivium = thrashyness
atreyu is just atreyu :P
and triviums ascendancy is a fine fucking album
Avenged Sevenfold and Trivium may not be metalcore any more but they used to be. Shogun is awesome though, I wouldn’t have minded if that was on the list. But not this high up…
Shit, forgot about Trivium i’m willing to bet a top 3 finish for them.
This album killed Metalcore. I’ve noticed that most of the -core bands that I like formed before 2002. And for the record, Miss Machine is THE definitive metalcore record.
snooze.
miss machine isn’t metalcore. And this record is better.
The list!
In two links
http://www.sadtrombone.com
http://www.instantrimshot.com
HAHAHAHA
I knew about instant rimshot… sad trombone is a new one to me. You just made my day.
3. Dance of Death
2. Formation of Damnation
1. Crack the Skye
In my opinion
At least one maiden albem needs to be in the top 3.
LOL Maidens 2000+ albums have been no where near anything considered the best albums of the century, but then again most of the shit on this list (ahem ahem especially that SHIT FUCKING GARBAGE Converge album) should be on here either.
My guess is that most of the panelists voted for one or the other of these KsE albums. Surely they didn’t put two on this list intentionally. I really don’t have anything against the band, but I never would have guessed there would be two of their albums this high on the list. Still predicting Meshuggah (probably Nothing or Obzen), Miss Machine, and Leviathan in no particular order for the top three.
Exactly. If they all would’ve gotten together and discussed the results, I don’t think two KSE albums would be in the top ten. This one? Sure. TEOH? No fucking way.
But again, whatever. It’s just a list.
yes finally!!! one of my favorite albums ever, and in my opinion the best KSE album!
What the hell happened to this site? All of a sudden every post turns into a teenage shit talking, troll fest. I know that having this type of ranking/list is bound to inspire some arguments, but things have really gone downhill. Did everyone from Blabbermouth and Lambgoat simultaneously make this their new home? :/
My favorite album of all time right here. Fucking awesome. Should be #1
Perfect Album, too bad when you listen to it you hear Leech, all these songs are 1000 times better when Howard does them live… so I agree with the music, but I would agree more if they completely redid the album howard jones on lead vocals… if that happened I would request this be #1
If Jesse Leach wasn’t on that album, it wouldn’t be what made me fall in love with it.
Don’t get me wrong; Howard is a very talented and diverse vocalist.
At the time during which Alive Or Just Breathing was released, it’s well documented that Jesse was going through a lot of personal problems, and that definitely showed in his vocals. That’s why in my opinion Alive Or Just Breathing doesn’t just SOUND like a powerhouse it FEELS like one.
nice two kse albums in the top 10. now all we need is some suicide silence and the list is complete
maybe cause they deserve to have 2 albums on the top 10? which I totally agree they do with these 2 records. Both groundbreaking.
Top 3 will be:
- Opeth – Blackwater Park
- Mastodon – Leviathan
- LoG – As the Palaces Burn
Not that I agree with palaces being in the top 3. It’s definitely not as good as ‘AoJB’.
It is apparent after reading these comments that:
1. Nothing is metal.
2. Everything sucks.
It seems that way.
I know I sounded off a bit on the End of Heartache selection, and I like that album better than AOJB, but this album is to metalcore what Korn’s first album was/is to nu metal.
And I like Korn. They just had a bunch of shitty copy cat bands playing the same style of music and wearing Adidas stuff. Sort of what Axl describes with this album.
*awaits the “Korn sucks” posts*
You’re not completely off;
Great git sound, but shitty band.
When that Korn crap came out originally, I remember thinking ‘If only a cool band would tune this low and run it through subwoofers’
I think if they had a singer who wasn’t such a pussy, Korn could have gone places.
no it’s just that the formally agreed upon metal canon happens to not include most of these bands. Personally, I don’t see how most metalcore can be considered non-metal. Like it or not it’s at least as metal as crossover and grindcore.
And the reason why everyone says everything here sucks? Probably because, I don’t know, they dislike most of these albums? They know most of their favorite bands will not reach this list, so the fact that these albums (ones which are pretty universally panned by the metal community) make it this high on a list that’s trying to seem so definitive is really annoying, when all we really want to see is Bolt Thrower – Those Once Loyal.
Everybody getting pissed at this list needs to calm the fuck down. The list isn’t forcing you to change your music tastes, so seriously calm down and go back to listening to the music you actually enjoy. You know what rightfully belongs on this list, so listen to it instead of bitching about what’s never going to pop up here.
“so the fact that these albums (ones which are pretty universally panned by the metal community) make it this high on a list that’s trying to seem so definitive is really annoying,”
well said, you summed it up perfectly. Nearly ALL of these albums were universally panned by the metal community….ie, they are trendy crap that the vast majority of metal fans don’t consider to be metal at all, let alone the best.
Those Once Loyal raped my face.
Fuck Killswitch Engage. Comma. Fuck this list. Comma. The Negation. Period.
You’re running this joke into the ground.
I liked Nihlity better.
To Sons of Man.
That’s all you need to know.
Brilliant choice, brilliant placement on this “list”.
KSE deserves both picks they’ve received.
but still, come on ARSIS!
I truly believe that this album should be in the top 5. I like that it is, but who cares what I think.
This list is questionable as a whole, but some of these have really been bringing me back to the glory days of becoming a metalhead. I just listened to this album for the first time in five years. I thought I would never listen to it again. This is actually pretty good, I can’t lie.
btbam-mother fucking colors
’nuff said
well this list really does just keep turning up surprises – like finding a dead mouse in your KFC.
Just one question though, in a completely different subject than KSE! If this list is for the best metal albums of this decade, shouldn’t they at least wait for the decade to end? Unless they count half of ‘99 as part of the decade :P, or they don’t think any good albums will come out until the end of the year!
This way though they could still leave a place open for a third KSE album (sic – maybe not completely a different subject).
But seriously, even if I don’t listen only to extreme stuf and I don’t think the albums I am going tomention are the best or the most influential, Outcast – Self injected metal and JFOC – Genesis blows a lot of these albims away. Oh and Symphony X – The Odyssey and Sieges Even – Paramount and the Art of Navigating the stars.
And I like KSE music but I have heard all this before from the Swedish metal scene (not with breakdowns though).
This album should be #1. It is whether you like it or not, probably the most influential metal album of the decade.
agreed
Cheap metalcore. Everything with ‘core’ on the end pretty much sucks. Leach sucks. This album sucks.
I just flashed on it…
ZILTOIDCORE
I’m actually stoked that none of the albums I truly love aren’t on this fucked-up list… cause then THEY would be shit too.
One of my all time favorite albums. Metal or not.
I listened to a few samples on iTunes, and it sounds a bit better than the average metalcore fluff, but, like all metalcore, it’s highly derivative of melodic death metal.
Honestly, I think the metal genre dies sometime in the late 90s, as far as creativity is concerned. It happens to every genre. Rock n’ roll, for example, hasn’t seen a groundbreaking album since the 70s. Similarly, metal hasn’t seen a groundbreaking album since the heyday of black metal and death metal (i.e. the early to mid 90s).
That’s not to say there isn’t any good metal anymore. It’s just that it’s all derivative, so naturally this list is pretty pathetic.
You know, it’ s a shame, because there have been several truly unique and creative releases since then, it’s just that nobody ever took notice the way they did during the heyday of the black and death eras.
You know, if you think about it, creativity as a whole has been in a slump for a while now.
I have to disagree. Deathspell Omega’s “Si Monumentmum Requires Circumspice” was extremely revolutionary and groundbreaking when it was released in 2004. They tapped into something new, which since then has become somewhat trendy in black metal…ie, “orthodox black metal”. Some of what they spawned is good, some derivitive. the Deathspell Albums after that (Kenose,Fas Maledictum…. and a couple ep’s consisting of epic 25 minute tracks) have been just as good. They change and EVOLVE with each album released. If you haven’t heard them, I suggest you get “Si monumentum”…give is many, many listens and each time the album will reveal more and more to you. Then Im sure you will want to pick up the releases following it.
Although I agree with you that Deathspell Omega is at the very top of modern black metal, I really don’t think anyone who likes a band such as Killswitch Engage would even begin to comprehend the musical revolution that is in Si Monvmentvm or Kenose…
Yes douchebag elitist prick here, but I’m right.
Given the point system that everyone appears to not understand… it’s no surprise a lot of the albums people are suggesting are not on the list. I’m sure quite a few of them made it on peoples individual lists however the albums that have been selected are more likely to appear on multiple lists. For a #4 album 204 points really isn’t that many. I’m not saying anything negative or positive about the list i’m just saying people really need to chill out
Tis a good record.
“Hating metalcore is trendier than metalcore itself you bunch of fucking posers.” is the best sentence ive read on this site yet,.
this album deserves to be here
the voters obviously thought kse should be on the list, so they picked one or the other albums, then 2 turn up..
Another KSE?!
Ziltoid – shoot this prick.
i still dont get how metal fans argue like bitches…. yeah not all metal is great and this list is pretty retarded but why cant we appreciate the genre of metal we dont always appreciate… i dont get grindcore and alot of death metal… BUT if its a great death metal album id still check it out and try to understand and appreciate why death metal fans love it… just like how i love bury your dead and slayer and glassjaw and cradle of filth…..this list should be named ‘most important albums of the 21st century’.. that would have a lot more credibility
Cant we all just get along? I thought metal was thing that was supposed to unite us agains the common enemy!
if we’re ALL united, how can we have an enemy???
That’s a beautiful sentiment Phro. Thank you.
See – if we could only be like Phro here – there’d be no bitching about this fucking list.
as long as hardcore kids and metal heads hate each other its not gonna happen
and AOJB was a great album!
Way too much killswitch on the list, surley theres a better album that could go here.
It’s obvious that the top 3 will be
Leviathan
As the Palaces Burn
The Art of Balance
hell, i dont like end of heartache either….its just there.
I’m not pissed about the albums they selected so much as the albums that got left off. In particular Suffocation’s eponymous album. Seriously. One of the greatest death metal bands gets back together and releases an AMAZING album and…well, it hasn’t shown up yet. Maybe it’ll be in the top three, but until then…
1: Pantera – Reinventing the Steel
2: Slayer – God Hates us All
3. Obituary – Frozen in Time
Not many seem to mention this, but I think The Impossibility of Reason or Resurrection might show up on this list.
Well, I agree with the statement that hating metalcore is trendier than metalcore itself. But..someone started with the statement “The problem with metal having such a huge range of styles and sub genres within itself” starts to indicate the problem most people seem to have with the list. There IS a huge range or styles and genres and hardly any of it is represented on this list. Take another look at the list, its the American billboard top 21 of metal for the most part, all it is missing is Disturbed and one of the shitty Metallica albums at this point. There is one token black metal album (which isn’t even all that representative of the genre imo), all of 2 death metal..and a shit ton of metalcore and ‘new wave american metal’ in comparison to the rest of it.
Part of the problem is the voting mechanism and who is actually on the list heavily favors this trend. I think if half the voters were from the European scene you might find more variety on this list. But this is what we got, and so given the current mechanics it favors metalcore and other American commercial successes.
Personally, I was hoping the list would provide some new stuff I hadn’t heard of that I could check out, but I among others have been sorely disappointed in that aspect. The positive tho has been others listing out their recommendations. That has definitely been more rewarding and I’ve found some cool stuff due to that. One example is some people had pointed out Insomnium’s Above the Weeping World. I’ve been listening to it everyday since I grabbed it, great album, and made the list have some value to me, even if it didn’t come from the list itself.
tl;dr
I fully agree that the best part of this list is other people listing their favorites. I know Ziltoid’s list had a few bands I hadn’t heard of but turned out to be awesome.
Btw, Insomnium is an awesome band.
As someone already said before, if we picked voters from the European scene, half of the list would be In Flames, and the other half would be some god forsaken Scandinavian black metal. On the positive side, we might’ve seen Necrophagist on the list though. But that’s a big maybe.
it just occurred to me that i have actually purchased 15 of the 18 cd’s on this list so far
Wow, nice to see everyone is on the same page with this one. KSE deserves to be ranked high, I think you could take all of their albums and rank them in one spot as they are a lot alike, bu thats just me.
where the fuck is prowler in the yard? or phantom limb? get some grind on here for fuck sake
2 KsE albums is ridiculous ESPECIALLY in the top 10
Oh shit, I was just listening to Prowler. It didn’t even occur to me to get pissed off that no PD albums made the list! Definitely one of my top albums.
I’m a little late to the party here… I haven’t listened to this album in a long time, and I don’t think it made much of an impression on me. I wouldn’t have put it on my list, that’s for certain. And I’m very surprised KSE ended up with two albums in the top 6.
I am still amused by the volume of people who think that X semi-obscure death metal band belongs on the list, or Y grindcore band… let’s face it, the thing about a list like this is that trendier album picks are going to find their way to the top simply because of the number of people voting. It’s simply the nature of the beast.
Now of course, the MS guys could get some more page hits by making several posts with the voters’ individual lists… hell, they could publish them one at a time and REALLY draw things out. I think that a poll of the readers’ lists wouldn’t be a bad idea at all, though, as long as they could limit the thread to lists and avoid the inevitable flamewars. (Either that, or just make it email submissions only.)
THIS-BAND-IS-NOT-GOOD. Looks like the votes for metalcore and pop metal releases over rid any true metal that may have been voted for. The top three is gonna be an overrated album-fest, we all know it. But I’d really like to see the albums that came close to making the list but didn’t, I bet those albums are the actual good releases of this decade.
If this list is going to be comprised of children’s music, then what about
1. THE SICKNESS-DISTURBED
2.THE UNTOUCHABLES-KORN
3. SOME LINKIN PARK ALBUM
Dude, you’re an ass!! Metalcore rulezzzz
Ahahahahahahhaahhahha…………thnaks dude….needed that!!
Am I the only one who doesn’t really have that much of a problem with this list? Pretty much every album I was thinking should have been on here, has been.
I own all but 2 that are on the list so far so I can’t complain too much. I disagree with Deftones “White Pony” only because I think “Saturday Night Wrist” was much better. I would have put Gojira higher but to each his own.
alright! this album rocks! i listen to it while dressing up my Barbies. i listen to the sad songs when my mom makes me clean my room.
yeah, my mom took the cd away from me because I couldn’t stop jumping on the bed while listening to it.
fuck shit no. one album is enough.
This list is hilariously bad.
It has to be said, I really don’t agree with the list at all. Just going through my own music collection these albums are far more deserving.
Neurosis ‘Given To The Rising’
Baroness’ ‘Red Album’,
BTBAM’ ‘Colors’,
DEP ‘Ire Works’,
The End ‘Elementary’,
Celtic Frost ‘Monotheist’,
Meshuggah ‘Nothing’,
Starkweather ‘Croaton’
Strapping Young Lad ‘Alien’,
Behemoth ‘Demigod’,
Decapitated ‘Organic Halucinosis’,
Emperor ‘Prometheous’,
Pig Destroyer ‘Terrifyer’,
Burnt By The Sun ‘The Perfect Is The Enemy of The Good’,
Cursed ‘One’,
Today Is The Day ‘Sadness Will Prevail’,
Fantomas ‘The Director’s Cut’,
Isis ‘Celestial’,
Old Man Gloom ‘Seminar II’,
Will Haven ‘Carpe Diem’,
Botch ‘We Are The Romans’,
Cephalic Carnage ‘Exploiting Dysfunction’,
Discordance Axis ‘The Inalienable Dreamless’,
Drowning Man ‘Rock N Roll Killing Machine’,
Nasum ‘Human 2.0′,
Nile ‘Black Seeds Of Vengeance’, …
Are you really telling me that Hatebreed’s ‘Perserverance’ is a more important metal album than any of those ? Actually, just reading my list makes me realise just how off the mark these chumps are. It should be renamed ‘the most run of the mill metal albums of the 21st century’. Where’s the innovation ? The bands really pushing metal forward. There are three records in there I agree with, Gojira, Converge and Machine Head… the rest… couldn’t be anymore ‘mehtal’ if they tried.
THIS
I agree with this induction and I think Killswitch Engage is a truly awesome band, heh
People that don’t think this is record is awesome can go fuck themselves, idiots. Best metalcore album ever made right here and one of the best metal records.
KsE really?! Two albums in the top ten, REALLY???!!!! I could understand if Slayer or Metallica or Megadeth landed in the top ten twice but KsE, SERIOUSLY????????? I don’t think the fact that I disike them should exclude them in anyway but I couldn’t disagree more with ither of these albums being in the top ten let alone both. I agree with the majority of the list to this point but KsE isn’t worthy of licking Dave Lombardo’s taint after a show in Phoenix,AZ in the middle of summer. Man they suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before any shit storm begins… My apologies bit of a brain fart there forgot for a moment that this is only a list of bests so far this century. Metallica and Megadeth would not belong on this list at all. I can see Mastodon being on here twice(should be higher!!!) or LoG or even Chimaira but KsE certainly doesn’t deserve a double nod this high in the rankings.
You really think Chimaira deserves to be on here more than KsE? Have you even taken a second to thing how influential this album is? This album pretty much defined what metalcore would become.
No this album sucked.
This Band sucks.
Hell all there songs sound the same.
You’re an idiot. GTFO
This list fails pretty hard amirite?