Best 5 albums of all time, and what they have meant to me....
Rob
Rock
Olaf
Hayer
Joe
Lynn Turner
Piet
Sielck - Iron Savior
Jeff
Waters - Annihilator
Cédric
"Cede" Dupont - Freedom Call
Chris
Boltendahl - Grave Digger
Alexander
Beyrodt - Silent Force
Herman
Li - Dragonforce
Wojtek
Lisicki - Lost Horizon
Mark
Briody - Jag Panzer
Dale
- Wolf
Stefan
Weinerhall - Falconer
Carlos
Cantatore - Skylark
Nick
"B.B." Savio - White Skull
Frédéric
Leclercq - Heavenly
Peter
Wiberg - Freternia
Lars
Chriss - Lion's Share
Carl
Johan Grimmark - Narnia
Rolf
Munkes - Empire/Vanize
Christoph
Uhl - Logar's Diary
Stefan
Petersson - Morifade
Jake
Fredén - Nostradameus
Magnus
Nordh - Majestic
Snoppi
- Wizard
Fredrik
Groth - The Storyteller
Lars-Göran
Persson - The Storyteller
Adam
Bickers - Power Quest
Steve
Williams - Power Quest
Peter
Dirkschneider - Vanize
Rob Rock
1. Dio - Holy Diver
The power and vocal performance were inspirational in my
development as a singer.
2. Judas Priest - British Steel
Halford's vocal attitude and range was incredible and the
songs were energizing.
3. Styx - Cornerstone
I learned to develop my vibrato from listening to this album
of great vocals.
4. Foreigner - Debut
Great songs, great singer, and great harmony.
5. AC/DC - Highway to Hell
High energy metal music that still rocks me today.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Olaf Hayer
1. Helloween - Keepers of the Seven Keys Part II
2. Judas Priest - Painkiller
3. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I
4. Manowar - Kings of Metal
5. Gamma Ray - Insanity and Genious
Joe Lynn Turner
Here are my Top 5 classic rock albums which were definitely an influence on my musicianship, singing and career.
1. Jimi Hendrix- Axis "Bold as Love"
Jimi is my mentor for music and Lyrics. Nobody comes close to doing what he has done...He was prolific.
2. Deep Purple - Machine Head
This album sets Deep Purple apart from all other bands...it was a huge influence on me in my formative years and still is.
3. Free- Any Album!
Nobody singes like Paul Rodgers...he has sex and soul in his voice...Free had the perfect scaled down sound...simple and strong... All the players were incredible! I still listen to this now.
4. Led Zeppelin
The first album took 17 hours to record.Amazing! The Performances are so loose and so real they could never be duplicated. The essence of Rock and Roll!
5. Cream- Any Album!
Although "Wheels of fire" is one of my favorites! These guys
had that same scaled down simple, but incredible preformed, sound. Jack
Bruce is a classic singer/bassist. Ginger Baker is still one of the most
innovative drummers there ever was and Clapton...well he's
still going strong.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Credits: Thanks to Jeb Wright at www.classicrockrevisited.com
Jeb was kind enough to contact Joe and prepare this information.
Piet Sielck - Iron Savior
1. Judas Priest - British Steel
This has been the ultimate Metal Album. When I heard it the first time, it was clear that this is 100% what I've been looking for. The guitarsound, the vocals of Rob and also the songs themself knocked me completly of my 15 year old feet.
2. Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East
Hansen and I had the unforgotton pleasure to see the last AC/DC Tour with Bon Scott... and Judas Priest - a band we've never heared of before - was their support! Wow, they played the entire "Unleashed..." show. We left the venue near to death, because they blew us away. Next day we both started to write Exciter-like songs...
3. Judas Priest - Sceaming for Vengeance
After listening to "British Steel" and "Unleashed..."
we bought the entire back catalouge of Priest. Also we eagerly awaited
the new album "Point of Entry". Except for a couple of tracks
(you know wich one...) we just hated the album. One of the biggest disappointments
in my youth! "You say yes, I say no" realy insulted us, so we
threw the record out of the
window... well to be honest... just the cover... When I listened the first
time to "Sceaming..." it almost brought tears to my eyes, because
i knew instantly: Priest are back. Well... I'd wish that this would happen
again today...
4. Van Halen - I + II
What Eddy did on guitars was and still is outragous! Blew me away in a blink of time. I just couldn't understand what this guy was doing on "Eruption"! So much energy and power. Looking back I'd say this has been my "first contact" with US-Metal.
5. Rainbow - Rising
Something I've never heare before. Appeared to me like the landing of a UFO. Dio's vocals and the mystical touch - specialy created with the keyboards - impressed me deeply.
~ Asked by Tommy, April 2002
Jeff Waters - Annihilator
Not in any order!
1. Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
I use/borrow/steal/influenced by many of their solo sections. Not technical
but extremely melodic and tasteful stuff! Bruce ruled as well as the bass
and Burr!
2. AC/DC - Back in Black
Not much to say other than one of the few records ever made where EVERY
song is a classic. Everything from Malcolms genius song-writing and tight
rhythms, Angus' amazing-feel blues solos, phil rudd tight, simple and
tasteful drumming, Brian J's 1000% effort and attitude behind the mike
and Mutt Langes production that still stands out today!
3. Slayer - Reign in Blood
EVIL/DEADLY. This classic has some of the coolest riffs, killerest drumming
and pure evil vocals a la Araya!
4. Metallica - Master of Puppets
Need I say more; Hetfield and Ulrich in their prime!
5. Judas Priest
Most all of their cd's had an effect on me. Screaming/Hell Bent/British/Unleashed/Painkiller
were all tops!
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Cédric "Cede" Dupont - Freedom Call
1. Helloween - Keeper of the 7 keys
Just my first experience with melodic metal, I still love
both parts of the seven keys.....just amazing songs!
2. Metallica - Black album
Reeeeeeaaaallly a bombastic production, lot's of killer
guitar-riffs, a killer guitarsound, killer vocals, killer, killer, killer!
;)
3. Stratovarius - Visions
I was completely blown away by the speed this band had with
all its doublebass songs, god it's still one of my all time faves!! Timo
Tolkki definetely is THE guitar hero!
4. Guns n' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
This was the first album I ever bought, every song on this
album is a hit, and I was pretty much impressed by the coolness and the
attitude of this band! Slash has really his own style of playing guitar,
I just love this band and it is a pitty that they broke up.......
5. Judas Priest - Painkiller
Well what should I say? Painkiller! no more words to say, he he
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Chris Boltendahl - Grave Digger
1. Grand Funk Railroad - Live 74
Raw power rock and the biggest bass I`ve ever heard on a
record
2. Black Sabbath- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
The best songs of Black Sabbath and a big influence to my
carreer
3. Van Halen - I
The god of guitar and fun metal pure
4. Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East
The one and only metal band and today a piece of shit
5. Tom Waits - The Asylum Years
The best of the best of the greatest singer in the world
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Alexander Beyrodt - Silent Force
1. Rainbow - Long live Rock'n Roll
Still one of my favorite albums. With this album I started
to be a real fan of Ritchie Blackmore. Two years ago I toured with Dio,
and it was a honour to meet one of the persons which are responsable for
me beeing a musician
2. Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
After I saw Randy with Ozzy I bought this album and it changed
my life completely
3. Thin Lizzy - Live and dangerous
My alltime favorite band. On my first longplayer with Sinner
"Back to the bullet" we had the same engineer like Lizzy had
on "Live and dangerous". It was a great experience and a lot
of fun to listen to all this funny storys Will (Reid Dick) was telling
about Phil and the boys
4. Yngwie Malmsteen - Every album till "End
of all wars"
He changed a whole generation of guitarplayers.....so he
changed me.
5. Deep Purple - Machine Head
What to say?................. I played a few shows with
Purple and this was intense!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. Whitesnake - 87
John Sykes and David at there best
7. Stratovarius - Visions
I love the production of this album
~ Asked by Tommy, April 2002
Herman Li - Dragonforce
1) Joe Satriani - Flying in a Blue Dream
This is the CD which finally got me into the
whole instrumental guitar music. Great melodies and passion from songs
like One Big
Rush, The Forgotten Part2. It is after hearing Joe Satriani that I really
started practicing
guitar seriously.
2) Steve Vai - Passion and Warfare
The Guitar God's space age rock guitar virtuosity.
One of the best rock guitar instrumental album EVER! Melody, control,
imagination,
sensitivity and more are all in there! This album changed my life and
it is STILL
changing my life in the way I look at the guitar. Every single tracks
are sheer genius
3) Dream Theater - Images and Words
When my friend made me a copy on tape in
1993, I remember listenning to this non-stop every single day for about
6 months!
After hearing the solos of songs such as Pull Me Under, Under a Glass
Moon I went into
another hard practicing period.
4) Tony MacAlpine - Maximum Security
This album is HEAVY METAL! Listen to the
drums, the guitars, it's all amazing! I learnt almost every song on this
album by sitting in
my bedroom with a guitar in hand listenning to the CD again and again
and again! Doing
this have influenced me deeply on my guitar playing's melodic control.
5) Megadeth - Rust in Peace
The album which totally launched me into the thrash metal
scene. Killer riffs, songs, arrangements, tight and the lead guitar playing
of Marty
Friedman completely blew me away! I still remember the time when I went
to school
listenning to the album on my crappy Walkman, sitting in the bus, looking
at my watch
timing how long the solo in Tornado of Souls went for!!
~ Asked by Tommy, April 2002
Wojtek Lisicki - Lost Horizon
The musical influences/inspiration that have affected my music senses
are not only based on the foundations of heavy metal.
All relevant musical and emotional aspects from the existing music in
the world, has had and still have an effect on my musical development.
Some examples:
-
Heavy metal gave/gives me the first love of music, harmony, technique, passion, lifestyle, happiness
-
Thrash metal gave/gives me the tightness and aggression in the music
-
Death metal gave/gives me a stronger belief in myself, energy, control/canalization/address of the hate, freedom
-
Black metal gave/gives me a different mystique, experiences from the dark side, extremity, courage
-
Trance gave/gives me cosmic magic
-
Ambience gave/gives me peace
-
Folklore gave/gives me purity and virginity
This is extremely difficult.
This five-points-limitation is definitely not enough. I have to do an
extension :) I can not say which albums mean most to me in my development
as a musician. It would be unfair to exactly specify some, as all my favorite
albums gave me something unique.
So I will specify some of my absolute favorite albums or bands in general
that include all those values to answer Your question quite good, but
I don’t want to order them in a hierarchic ordering.
Moreover, I must limit this list only to metal music; otherwise it would
definitely be a long list.
Finally, I could easily add “Awakening The World” to the list
of the albums I love most, but it could be exaggerated. Well, just so
you know ;)…
Here comes some:
- Early Morbid Angel
- Out Of the Sun- Joey Tafolla
- Thundersteel - Riot
- Don’t Break The Oath – Mercyful Fate
- Early Manowar (although I “discovered=appreciated”
the band quite late)
- In The Night Side Eclipse - Emperor
- Pure Holocaust - Immortal
- Awaking The Guardian - Fates Warning
- Early Coroner
- Early Deicide
- Early Helloween
- Late Virgin Steele (bridges and the most
of the refrains)
- Iron Maiden (although I “discovered=appreciated”
the band quite late)
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Mark Briody - Jag Panzer
1. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
The perfect blend of dark melodies and heavy riffs. Metal has never been done better.
2. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
See reason #1
3. Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
Maiden brings a whole new dimension to the role of twin guitars in metal. I huge influence on my songwriting and guitar playing.
4. Angelwitch - Angelwitch
This album opened my eyes to the world of underground metal. It proved you didn't need a major label and huge budget to put out a killer album.
5. Witchfynde - Stagefright
This album combined almost pop-like melodies with doom guitar riffs. It was the unusual melding of styles that motivated me to experiment with different melodies in my own songwriting.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Dale - Wolf
1. Nazareth - Razamanaz
The first heavy album I ever laid my hands on. I listened
to it secretly with my best friend. It was his big brothers. I still remember
that I thought they played their shit so unbelievably fast. Well, you
have to consider I was like 9 years old at the time and used to rock my
socks of to Elvis.
2. Motörhead - No Remorse
My very first LP. The cover was made out of leather and smelled like
a shoe store. And this was fast! I couldn’t believe it. They scared
me, but I loved them, and still do.
3. Mercyful Fate - Don’t Break the Oath
I saw this album for the first time in a local record store. It frightened
me, but I couldn’t take my eyes of that nasty looking cover. That
very night I had a really bad dream about it. I bought it the next day
and it’s still one of my all-time favourites. Pure evil coming out
of the speakers.
4. Iron Maiden - The number of the beast
My very first Maiden album. From the moment I cranked up the volume
on this baby, I was in love. I just couldn’t believe that Clive Burr
guy. Or any of them really. I still go nuts for “Invaders”,
one of my top ten metal tracks.
5. Ozzy Ozbourne - Bark at the moon
The album that opened up a new world for me. It’s very heavy, yet melodic, and Ozzy sings like he’s from another planet. I was amazed when I first heard it, and still am today. It’s very important to me not only because it’s so extremely good, but also because it got me into Black Sabbath.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Stefan Weinerhall - Falconer
1. Motley Crue - Shout at the Devil
This was the record that in my early years brought me into
hardrock and metal in the first place, besides KISS that is. I still hold
this record very high. Maybe not the highest technical quality but I´ve
allways said that good songs and a sound with personality stands above
secundary things as skill, not the other way around.
2. Bathory - Hammerheart
This album was the one that really woke the flame inside of me regarding northern history. In the beginning the "actionfilled" Vikingage was the most interesting but the interest has developed into a more wider range today, but this album was the seed for it. Maybe the musical side of this album did also form my songwriting a bit since I really loved it, I still do but the lacking of his vocal abilities has grown more clear to me now. Yiaiks!!! A milestone for me anyway.
3. Rainbow - Rising
An album that brought my attention more on the 70´s than I had
before, and i thank it alot for doing it. A masterpiece in hardrock....or
what it´s called. Epic music and epic lyrics, magical music.
4. Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses
As i heard this record for the first time it was the first connection
I had with JT (it would grow very strong) I got gooseskin. perfect music
simply, I felt like I really could reflect myself in this music. it went
straight to the heart. A favourite all since. Nothing could have been
made better. This album I think broadened my horizon beyond the "metalworld"
and into new interesting territory.
5. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
The best Heavy metal/Hardrock album ever. Dio´s voice and lyrics combined with Iommis songs combined with Geezers superb basslines makes this one a real "lie down with headphones and just dream away" kind of album. This album mixed with the JT album is a goal I will never live up to.....I am not god I´m afraid.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Carlos Cantatore - Skylark
1. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
A great wonderful album for all musicians and metallers with melody and power feellings...this is metal!
2. Metallica - Master of Puppets
No words for this album, only violence!
3. Morbid Angel - Blessed are the Sick...
A good album to begin hearing true American Death Metal!
4. Napalm Death - Utopia Banished
My first Grind album!!! It's incredible powerful!!!
5. Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
Thanks to Pantera for give me a new reason to playing drums!!!
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Nick "B.B." Savio - White Skull
1. My favourite album is "Burn" of Deep
Purple, which I considered the best of all the time. Here there
are two amazing singers: David Coverdale and Glenn Houghes.
2. Than I love "No rest for the Wicked" of Ozzy......Here
Zakk Wilde has a great guitar sound....... really fat!
3."The Seventh Sign" of Y.Malmsteen
is another album that I love....Here Yngwie has impressed me not only
for the guitars parts but for the composition and the good production
of the tracks.
4."House of the Holy" is my favourite Led
Zeppelin album......I haven't words for describe the genius of
Jimmy Page like composer and producer.
5."High Tension Wires" is an instrumental album of Steve
Morse...probably the guitarist that has influenced me more than
the others. He can plays more guitar styles.....I consider Steve the total
guitar player.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Frédéric Leclercq - Heavenly
1.Alice Cooper - Welcome to my Nightmare/Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time :)
Nothing to say, those albums are...Perfect!!!
2.Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness
My first step into death metal...great album, violent but melodic.
3.Scorpions - In Trance
I love Uli Jon Roth, the feeling he gave to those songs is amazing...and Klaus Meine's voice...and every song is a diamond!
4.Slayer - Reign in Blood
Well...Thrash!!!!!
5.Mötley Crüe - Shout at the Devil/Dr Feelgood
I really like this band, and those albums are really great...
But fuck, that's really hard to pick only 5 albums...I can't
forgot Anthrax, Carcass,
Judas Priest, Manowar,
My Dying Bride, Pestilence,
Megadeth etc, etc.
A top 20 would be better :)
~ Asked by Tommy, April 2002
Peter Wiberg - Freternia
1. Judas Priest - Defenders
Of The Faith
This album represents the essence of what Heavy Metal is all about. Judas
Priest rules.
2. Dokken - Under Lock And Key
Great songwriting, great guitar work, great vocals. Dokken is one of my
favorite bands and I think they deserve a stronger following. Check 'em
out!
3. Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
The first record I heard with Ozzy. Like all his 80s-albums, this is a
strong without any weak tracks. Maybe not as classic as Blizzard Of Ozz
or Madman but it's a special album for me.
4. Dio - Holy Diver
The Last In Line is probably Dio's best work but again I will list an
album which had a very strong influence on me in the past.
5. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
I haven't listened to this album for years but I have to pick a Sabbath-ablum
since they are eternal idols for me.
~ Asked by Tommy, May 2002
Lars Chriss - Lion's Share
1. Black Sabbath- Mob Rules
The greatest Metal album of all time. The riff master Iommi and the vocal god Dio in the same band!!!
2. Def Leppard - Pyromania
Amazing songs. Melodic Metal at its best. A classic!
3. Blue Murder- Blue Murder
The album Whitesnake should have done as follow up to 1987.
4. OZZY- Bark At The Moon
Ozzy at his best. Great songs and his best line up to date.
5. MSG- MSG
Michael Scenkers second solo album. There's something magical about the mood on this record.
~ Asked by Tommy, April 2002
Carl Johan Grimmark - Narnia
1. Peter Gabriel - Passion
The absolute favorite!! Brilliant, highly emotional music. Peter Gabriel
is a genious!
The musicians/singers are just unbelievable.
2. Tony Iommi (and guests) - Iommi
One of the most intresting modern hardrock albums to date. Very innovative...Very heavy.
3. Yngwie Malmsteen - Fire and ice
Beautiful, high class neoclassic hardrock. The song-writing, guitar playing, arrangements and the over-all performances on this one is fantastic.
4. Black Sabbath - Dehumanizer
The heaviest, grooviest and most powerful "classic" heavy rock album.
5. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
Conceptual masterpiece...
....Something like that, I guess....
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Rolf Munkes - Empire/Vanize
1. AC/DC - Back in Black
2. Sting - Mercury Falling
3. Foreigner - Four (My first Concert)
4. Jeff Beck - Guitar Shop
5. Dio - The Last In Line
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Christoph Uhl - Logar's Diary
It´s really hard to do such stuff and giving a rank
is even impossible, but I´ll try my best...
The best 100 would be more easier.
1. Crystal Eyes - In Silence they March (and also World of Black and Silver)
- It´s the best Power Metal album for me I ever heard. These melodies are briliant, every song is different from the other, the riffing is awesome. It´s one of those very few CDs that are touching my soul every time I listen to them. Man, how often I cried listening to these songs... and, by the way, the lyrics from Andreas Götesson are also brilliant!
2. Freternia - Warchants and Fairytales
WOW! This voice in combination with these Speed Metal pearls is marvelous. A CD full of Power and fantasy, I can listen over and over to this CD (and even the new demo songs I got my hand on...)
3. Haggard - And thou shalt trust the seer
The most emotional CD I ever listened to. I get so many Power when I listen to these songs, although it´s no Power Metal at all. Nasis is a genius in composing catchy and deep songs, which are definitely not from this time.
4. Domine - Stormbringer Ruler
This band is the most epic I ever listened to. I feel mighty and glorious within their music. Enrico is a true Metal fan and writes the most epic songs I ever heard. A feeling I can´t compare with other bands and never want to miss.
5. Hammerfall - Glory to the Brave
I have to name this one, when I remember back in 1997 when this CD was released. I listened to it over and over and still am crushed by the power the songs develope. Every song is a true Power Metal killer with real feeling and with the title track there is one of the best ballads ever written on the CD.
Now, after I named five CDs I have the feeling of having betrayed at least 50 other good friends of me. So let me name a few more please:
Elvenking - Heathenreel
Jag Panzer - The Age of Mastery
New Eden - Obscure Master Plan
Rage - Black in Mind
Gamma Ray - Somewhere out in Space
Rhapsody - Legendary Tales
Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
Manowar - Triumph of Steel
Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight
World
Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
Scanner - Ball of the Damned
And thousands more...
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Stefan Petersson - Morifade
My all time favourite metal albums are as follows:
1. Queensryche - Operation :Mindcrime
What can I say: the story,the music, the vocals!
2. Iron Maiden - Seventh son of a seventh son
A fantastic piece of music with Bruce at his best
3. Helloween - Keeper of the seven keys I
I don´t know how many hours I have spent shouting along with Mr. Kiske
4. Kiss - Alive II
It shows how a live metal act should be
5. Black Sabbath - Live evil
Also a hell of a live-album where Dio takes Sabbath to a new level
I hope this will do. I tend to revaluate my favourite albums all the time, so if you ask me the same question next month you´ll probably get another answer!
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Jake Fredén - Nostradameus
1. Judas Priest - Painkiller.
It has been my favourite album for eight years now. Every note is perfect on the whole album, it´s the ultimate heavy metal album. Always will be.
2. Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the other side.
It´s really hard to put my top five albums but 2-5 are some of
my favourite albums.
Blind Guardian - Nightfall in middle-earth.
Great stuff. Simply amazing. It´s a tie.
3. Luciferion - Demonication, the manifest.
Dissection - Storm of the lights bane.
Emperor - Anthems to the welkin at dusk.
I know, many albums but I feel this way. Also here a tie.
4. Nightwish - Wishmaster.
I´m really in love with this one. It´s pure magic.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Magnus Nordh - Majestic
This is a hard task, since I listen to a wide range of music
and styles, but this is what comes to mind right now, kind of funny when
I think about it.
Nr 1. The Musical "CHESS" got me
back into music when I was 13 years old.
Nr 2. Kiss Alive I, that got me started playing
guitar in the first place.
Nr 3. Dream Theater (Live at the Marque)
and the song "Pull Me Under" Got me hooked on progressive Rock/Metal.
Nr 4. Allan Holdsworth on the first UK album
blew me away.
Nr 5. Seeing Steve Vai on the Zappa´s
Universe Concert on TV, and then getting his Passion And Warfare album.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Snoppi - Wizard
1. Slayer - Reign in Blood
When I was young I only had to hear one single note from that album and
I
was immediately feeling high. I always thought that I had to drink beer
when listening to this great album.
2. Virgin Steele - Invictus
I never heard something from this group before, but what I heard was totaly
great. Sounds very similar to Manowar, but much better. (...and the
invictus album IS better than the noble savage...)
3. Anthrax - Among the Living
Charly Benante is one of the best drummer I heard. Very cool!
4. Testament - The Legacy
OK, I also could say: The Gathering. But I remember the good partys I
had
in my youth when listening to this band (also the live in Eindhoven is
very
great).
5. Deep Purple - Made in Japan
I only have to say: Ian Pace. I never heard a live record that spread
so
much dynamic and so much feelings. Wonderful!
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Fredrik Groth - The Storyteller
1. Twisted Sister – Stay Hungry
This was the first metal album I bought.
2. W.A.S.P – s/t
GREAT album with a GREAT singer!
3. Blind Guardian – Somewhere Far Beyond
Same here; GREAT album with a GREAT singer!
4. KISS – Creatures of the Night
KISS best 80’s album.
5. Helloween – Walls of Jericho
This was the album that made me want to play melodic metal.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Lars-Göran Persson - The Storyteller
1. Iron Maiden - Killers
This album was the first album that i bought when i was about 10 years old, and they have been my all time favorite band ever since.
2. Helloween - Walls of Jerico
I was so impressed by this record mainly because of Kai Hansen and his
high pitched vocal, and of corse of the speed of the songs of the album.
It was a real revolution (in my opinion)
3. Yngwie Malmsteen - Marching Out
What can i say more than that Yngwie is the guitarrist that gave neo-classic
a name. He was and still is one of the best guitar players in the world.
4. King diamond - Conspiracy
He is one of a kind.
5. Blind Guardian - Somewhere far Beyond
The best Power metal band today.
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Adam Bickers - Power Quest
1. Judas Priest - Painkiller
"In my opinion this is the Ultimate Heavy Metal album of all time. It cannot be surpassed.No one will ever better it. Priest struck the perfect blend of soaring vocals, aggression and virtuoso musicianship on this album. Songs like "Painkiller", "Between the Hammer and the Anvil" and "A Touch of Evil" changed the way I played METAL. An all time masterpiece!
2. Carcass - Heartwork
This is another genre defining album. Whilst skull-crushingly heavy it
is also melodic and intelligent. It saw Carcass move away from the self-limiting
boundaries of gore metal into new territory. The lyrics are cold and cutting,
literally dripping with bitterness. The music
grinds and pummels. Total METAL! The songs "Heartwork" and "This
Mortal Coil" were truly inspiring to me. I'll be listening to this
album 'til the day I die.
3. Annihilator - Never Neverland
Thrash has never sounded better than this! A perfect production bringing out every bass note and ride-symbol and killer songs! This album has speed, melody, aggression and passion. No-one writes riff like Jeff Waters. This was my favorite Annihilator lineup. When ever "Phantasmagoria" or "Sixes & Sevens" is played I just have to bang my head!
4. Death - Symbolic
The late Chuck Schuldiner (R.I.P.) was one of metals true pioneers. He
has earned his place along side Sabbath and Priest in the history of heavy
music. It is a tragedy that
he was taken from us when he still had so much to express, and so much
to say. Symbolic" is possibly the best representation of his vision.
Progressive yet catchy, heavy yet melodic, a stunning work of art. Metal
has lost one of it's finest crusaders.
5. Iron Maiden - Power Slave
It's hard to pick a favorite Maiden album but this one does it for me.
Songs like "Aces High", "The Duelists" and "Rhyme
of the Ancient Mariner" blaze with the energy
and passion that made Maiden the biggest metal band in the world. Even
songs like "Flash of the Blade", largely overlooked by many
people exhibits Maidens unique genius. Brilliant!
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Steve Williams - Power Quest
1. Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
The first real heavy metal record I heard as a kid. It totally blew me away with the twin guitar attack but also the catchy/sing-along choruses! I know 'arry doesn't like it now but "Invaders" still rules!
2. Helloween - Walls of Jericho
My first encounter with "speed metal". "Ride the Sky" came out of the speakers and that was it! Incredible. Twin guitar action taken to the next level. The "Keeper" albums which followed were also cool.
3. Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time
An odd choice perhaps, but it remains one of my favourites. I loved the guitar synths on this album and it contains some underrated songs like "Sea of Madness" and the amazing "Alexander the Great" This one still gets played regularly at my place!
4. Dream Theater - Images and Words
Amazing! I remember when I first heard this at my mate Nigels house in Bristol (UK)....the perfect balance of melody and progressive elements. Stand out track for me is the sublime "Surrounded"
5. Labÿrinth - Return to heaven denied
My first foray into the world of Italian power metal and what a place to start. Great songs and great drumming and guitar work. Stand out tracks for me are "Lady lost in time" and "State of Grace"
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002
Peter Dirkschneider - Vanize
1. Painkiller
2. No more tears
3. Highway to hell
4. Metallica "Enter sandman"
5. Ozzy "Tribute"
~ Asked by Tommy, March 2002