The Resurgence of Molten Metal

There was a time, not so long ago, when I feared that my beloved Heavy Metal genre was all but dead. It was the late 90s, and Metal had been comandeered by a bunch of pseudo-Hip-Hop whiteboys wearing ball caps and singing about pussy. Metallica, once the bastion of Metal fans everywhere, were releasing shitty, meandering blues albums that to this day have left a tarnish on their career. Pantera, THE metal band of the 1990s, was dissolving into obscurity on a wave of drugs, booze and infighting.

It was a dark time in the world of Metal, and Donk for one thought that perhaps he was witnessing the death of the genre 30 years after Black Sabbath burst onto the scene like Satan’s uncircumsised cock through a virgin’s maiden-wall.

But something amazing has happened over the past few years, something that proves the existence of the Devil and his Minions. Metal is back baby, and it is back in a HUGE way. Maybe the genre is experiencing a renaissance because we are living in such dark, cynical times, with terrorist attacks, faulty wars, and consumerism running rampant. Maybe it’s a backlash against the hypocritical conservatism being thrust upon Americans (much as the PMRC aided Metal in the late 80s).

But whatever it is, Donk sure is glad that REAL Metal is back, alive and kicking. And here are some of the bands that are leading the charge. Here are Beelzebub’s Metal Warriors:

[tag]Opeth[/tag]

Key Albums:

Blackwater Park – 2002

Ghost Reveries – 2005

The best metal band of this era – period. Mixing haunting, clean-vocal passages with brutal, complex metal, Opeth breaks the rules of what a Metal band is supposed to be – over and over again. Ghost Reveries is the best Metal album of the past 15 years, edging out Death’s Symbolic.

[tag]Katatonia[/tag]

Key Albums:

Viva Emptiness – 2003

The Great Cold Distance – 2006

Another Scandanavian band, but with a totally different sound than Opeth. Deep lyrics, a gifted singer and some brutal riffs make this one of my all time favorite metal bands. I must have listened to Viva Emptiness 100 times by now, and it just never gets old.

[tag]Lamb of God[/tag]

Key Albums:

As the Palaces Burn – 2003

Sacrament – 2006

The best American Metal Band today, carrying the torch for Pantera-style thrash. There is a drum passage in As the Palaces Burn that has to be heard to be believed. These guys are amazing musicians.

[tag]Agalloch[/tag]

Key Albums:

The Mantle – 2002

These guys hail from Seattle, and it shows. Their dreary style of folk-metal is perfect for a cold, rainy day. Love this album.

[tag]Lacuna Coil[/tag]

Key Albums:

Unleashed Memories – 2001

Karmacode – 2006

This Italian, female-led group have been making music way longer than Evanescence, and do that same brand of music much better. Christina Scabbia is the best female vocalist in Metal.

[tag]Avenged Sevenfold[/tag]
Key Albums:

City of Evil – 2005

These young-uns are waving the Metal flag for younger generations, but that doesn’t mean they rock any less. They are hugely talented, mixing screamo with Maiden-esque guitar harmonies. I predict Avenged Sevenfold will make a classic album sometime this decade.

[tag]Trivium[/tag]

The Crusade – 2006

Much has been made of their recent change to a more Metallica-sounding style of metal, but that doesn’t mean Trivium are hacks. Their new album is fantastic, with big heart-pumping anthems and ear-splitting thrash pieces. There’s even an 8 minute long instrumental! And get this – they just debuted at number 6 on the UK music charts. These guys may get huge very soon.

[tag]Enslaved[/tag]

Key Albums:

[tag]Ruun[/tag] – 2006

Yet another Scandanavian band that mixes clean passages with complicated, catchy riffs. Ruun is the pinnacle of their 10 year old career.

Iron Maiden

Key Albums:

A Matter of Life and Death – 2006

Iron Maiden’s latest release is a dark, progressive opus that reannounces their relevance on the music scene. And they’re more popular than ever – this album has been in top ten charts all over the world, and nabbed Maiden their first top 10 in the US EVER.

Mastodon

Key albums:

Leviathan – 2004

Mastodon’s brand of old-school thrash is ridiculously complex yet infectious at the same time – no mean feat. Leviathan is their Master of Puppets, an album they will be sorely pressed to top, as their latest release shows.

System of a Down

Key albums:

Toxicity – 2001

Mezmerize – 2005

I mean DUUUHHH.

OK metalheads, critique Donk’s list.