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.

#2 SLAYER - Show No Mercy (1983)

By Greg Pratt

This album was young SLAYER at the height of their hysteria, when everything was faster, higher, more ludicrous. Listening back to it now, this one borders on parody, but at the time, there was just no denying it. Classic cuts abound – not many debuts have a one-two punch like ‘The Antichrist’ and ‘Die By The Sword’ as tracks two and three. That cover art is absurd but was freaky at the time (and iconic now); and, really, for 1983, this was some next-level shit. They’d get better (Reign In Blood, Seasons In The Abyss), they’d get scarier (Hell Awaits), but never would they be so bloodthirsty. Funny Wikipedia trivia: The band was forced to self-finance Show No Mercy, combining the savings of vocalist Tom Araya, who was employed as a respiratory therapist, and money borrowed from guitarist Kerry King's father. It became Metal Blade Records highest selling release.

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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)

#4) CANNIBAL CORPSE – Tomb Of The Mutilated (1992)

#3) TROUBLE – Psalm 9 (1984)

#2) SLAYER - Show No Mercy (1983)