BraveWords.com's Top 30 Metal Blade Releases Of All Time - #18
January 28, 2012, 12 years ago
To commemorate the fine 30th Anniversary of metal’s most venerable and storied label, Metal Blade Records, the writers of BraveWords.com have gotten their metalheads together and come up with a list of the Top 30 coolest, most legendary, rockingest, most influential, most deserving of fame and notoriety, releases founder/CEO Brian Slagel and crew have issued since forging the fire way back in mom’s garage in 1982. As has become tradition ‘round here, we are presenting them – through January and February – in reverse order, leading eventually to the penultimate slab of iron ever to carry an esteemed Metal Blade catalogue number.
By Mark Gromen
BRAINSTORM were initially signed to the German side of the label after a pair of independent releases. Liquid Monster coincided with a higher international profile, to fans and the American office as well (I didn’t even know who they were when approached by BW&BK; to play our ‘04 festival). No longer just a mid-level Deutsch festival act, these tunes catapulted Brainstorm to new heights, thanks to a beefier production and the live intensity missing from earlier works. As well, Liquid Monster deftly juxtaposes the commercial ‘All Those Words’ and ‘Heavenly’ ballad with the ripping guitars on ‘Lifelong’ and the fist-pumping fury of ‘Even Higher’ or ‘World Coming Through’, both of which remain mainstays onstage.
#30) FALCONER – Falconer (2001)
#29) KING’S X – Black Like Sunday (2003)
#28) LETHAL – Programmed (1990)
#27) SACRIFICE – Apocalypse Inside (1993)
#26) CANNIBAL CORPSE – Kill (2006)
#25) THE RED CHORD - Fed Through The Teeth Machine (2009)
#24) THE CROWN – Deathrace King (2000)
#23) VADER – Revelations (2002)
#22) GWAR – Scumdogs Of The Universe (1990)
#21) FATES WARNING – Awaken The Guardian (1987)
#20) CATTLE DECAPITATION – Humanure (2004)
#19) PRIMORDIAL – To The Nameless Dead (2007)
#18) BRAINSTORM – Liquid Monster (2005)
