BraveWords.com's Top 30 Metal Blade Releases Of All Time - #15
January 31, 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
In a career filled with milestone operettas, this 2003 release is a return to form, after more than a decade of similar sounding, so-so efforts. Unlike Abigail II, which preceded it by a year, this was a fresh (not rehashed) storyline. Less vicious sounding, with (as acted out, on the accompanying live dates) a virtual ALICE COOPER-styled step-by-step plot, it’s also closer to MERCYFUL FATE than his other solo works (especially ‘Magic’ and ‘Living Dead’). Fellow MF alum Mike Wead (guitar) was involved in this melancholic creation, which features female accompaniment and plenty of falsetto. Finally, ‘Christmas’ is a long overdue partner to ‘No Presents…’
#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)
#17) CIRITH UNGOL – One Foot In Hell (1986)
#16) THE ORGANIZATION – The Organization (1993)
#15) KING DIAMOND – The Puppet Master (2003)
