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.

#9) FLOTSAM AND JETSAM – Doomsday For The Deceiver (1986)

By Greg Pratt

Hard to downplay the importance of this one in my personal musical development, ever-influential older brother having it on cassette when I was a young pup/fledgling banger, the insanely prominent “FEATURING JASON NEWSTED” scrawled across the cover of that particular reissue stealing the show. But good lord, it’s those air-raid siren vocals that stand the test of time (“…hammerHEEEEEEAAAAD!”), the classic early-thrash drama to the tunes, the ambition all over the place, the sound of a band playing insanely hard, even though they would always be destined to be the bridesmaid, despite deserving so much more. An early thrash classic, period.

BraveWords.com

Top 30 Metal Blade Releases Of All Time

#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)

#14) BLACK DAHLIA MURDER – Unhallowed (2003)

#13) SIX FEET UNDER – Warpath (1997)

#12) BOLT THROWER – Those Once Loyal (2005)

#11) AS I LAY DYING - Frail Words Collapse (2003)

#10) GRIP INC. – Nemesis (1997)

#9) FLOTSAM AND JETSAM – Doomsday For The Deceiver (1986)