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.

#5) TROUBLE – The Skull (1985)

By Martin Popoff

Chicago fire ‘n’ brimstoners TROUBLE prove that their seminal, raw, even undisciplined debut was no fluke, returning with a sophomore slab of doom that was even sludgier and more obscure than the groundbreaking Psalm 9 head-scratcher. The Skull was also a fine addition to Metal Blade’s early list simply due to the fact that it expanded the stable’s stylistic range. The mystery of the band’s punishment-grade “white” metal was further extended through the album’s creepy cover art, but it was the groundbreaking doom metal strafed by the terror-filled vocals of Eric Wagner that sealed the fate of any metalhead that discovered this most leaden of underground acts.

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)

#8) AMON AMARTH – With Oden On Our Side (2006)

#7) GOATWHORE – Carving Out The Eyes Of God (2009)

#6) MERCYFUL FATE – 9 (1999)

#5) TROUBLE – The Skull (1985)