5 Metal Compilations I Love

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

Originally I had intended this last post in the 3rd compilation month to be a final review, but I admit that a wave of laziness hit me, and thus I’ve decided to do something a bit easier to finish things off. With three versions of this mini-festival under my belt, I’ve looked at a variety of compilations. From 2017 to this year, I’ve listened to quite a few collections of metal, and thus there are plenty of them I enjoy. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are 5 metal compilations that I love. Enjoy!

1) Ozzy Osbourne: The Ozzman Cometh (Song)

I begin this list with the first metal album I got. By today’s standards it’s heavily outdated, but compared to most of the other compilations on here it is the most organized. From his Black Sabbath days to the Ozzmosis era, you’re treated to a fairly good look at the Blizzard of Ozz’s career. There have been a few more compilations since with increasing material, but it was the Ozzman Cometh were I began to love Ozzy, and to further continue my budding metallic journey.

2) Megadeth: Back To The Start (Song)

The irony of this one is that it is still the only Megadeth album I physically own. I was just so happy to own this when I got it way back in 2006, that I never truly considered getting a proper record from the band (Despite being interested to this very day). On top of that, Mustaine’s seemingly increasing ego in the early 2010s made it frustrating to get into Megadeth any further, so there’s that. Regardless, I still get a kick out of Back To The Start! It may be dated like the album above, but the choices of songs on here are well picked, and the overall package is just fun. Grab this compilation if you can!

3) Kreator: Scenarios Of Violence (Song) ***

I just reviewed this at the start of the month, so I won’t say much here. I will say that there were some nice songs selected for Scenarios Of Violence, and off of some great albums no less: Extreme Aggression, Coma Of Souls, Renewal, etc. A good group of tunes from Kreator......but there is another.

4) Kreator: Voices Of Transgression - A 90s Retrospective (Song)

Scenarios Of Violence was fun, but Voices Of Transgression is a blast! The first compilation I got from Kreator, I found it’s view of the band’s 90s period to be interesting. Not perfect though, as the band was having issues with their record company at the time, and couldn’t include certain things. There was nothing from Coma Of Souls, and only the title track from Renewal was on the record. Voices Of Transgression is definitely a lop-sided affair, and some listeners may be turned off by it’s incomplete look at that decade, but at the same time what you’re presented with on this release is still entertaining!

5) Type-O Negative: The Least Worst Of (Song)

If I was ordering this from 5 to 1, This definitely was going to be at the number one spot. Mostly because I have such a strong love for the band, but also because it’s like a 2nd look into Pete Steele’s state of mind in 2000. You’ve got a mix of songs from almost every single record they had released up to that point (Save for just a single tune from Slow, Deep, and Hard), but it’s the three unreleased tracks from World Coming Down that give the compilation something of a tragic edge. It’s this mix of attitudes that gives The Least Worst Of a unique feel to the total package, and it’s that mix that keeps me paying attention.

And those were 5 metal compilations that I happen to love. Again this list was done out of pure laziness, but I hope that you enjoyed this all the same. Well, June is nearly here, and a new music festival is incoming. So pack your bags & get your passport, cause we’re heading to Japan for this one!



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If you’d like to see my review I mentioned here, then click on the link below for more:

Album Review: Kreator’s Scenarios Of Violence

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 20: Kentaro Miura R.I.P.

I find myself......conflicted with today's post. As many of you know on May the 6th of this year, iconic manga creator Kentaro Miura passed away at age 54 due to an acute aortic dissection (Read here for details). Mr. Miura was the creator of the critically acclaimed series Berserk, as well as a few others. Much like the death of Osamu Tezuka in 1989, the void created by Mr. Miura's passing is scarring, and will most likely never be healed.

The reason I find myself conflicted with this is that....I'm not a Berserk fan. Never was, and I probably never will be. I think the manga (And by extension the anime) is far too bleak, far too mean, far too nihilistic & cynical, and far too morally grey for it's own good. I get that Dark Fantasy is a genre & that people like it, and that life isn't all sunshine & rainbows (It's not all grey skies & storms either), but there's a fine line between Dark Fantasy and just plain dark. So while I certainly feel sympathy for Mr. Miura and his family in addition to the numerous fans he has, I don't feel much because he was never my thing.

On the other hand, I also have nothing but respect for Kentaro Miura! As much as I'm not a fan of Berserk, I cannot deny the power & legacy it managed to obtain. I cannot deny that he can create a world that just grabs your attention, and never let's go unless it wants too. Hell, it's because of Mr. Miura's mastery of Dark Fantasy that inspired Hidetaka Miyazaki to create Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, the Dark Souls trilogy, Sekiro, and by extension the "Souls-Like" genre of RPGs. He made something I don't like, but I none the less tip my hat at just how influential this titan of Manga is. So, I salute you, Mr. Kentaro Miura. May the heavens above be impressed with your creativity & work!

And that was my two cents on the passing Mr. Kentaro Miura. Though he was never my cup of tea, I cannot take away any enjoyment or delight that others make have gotten from his work. Well, come back Monday for the conclusion to the 3rd ever Compilation Month. See you then!

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I wonder how well Mr. Miura would be able to kill this guy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPlWnCE4Edo&t=29s

Album Review: Kreator's Scenarios Of Violence

Welcome back to Compilation Month fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We began the month with Capitol Punishment from Megadeth, and while it was a little strange, it was also fun as well. Today’s review is a return to a band I’ve taken a look at way back in 2017 during the first Compilation Month, and one I hinted at with Capitol Punishment. Kreator has returned everybody, and the subject of today’s review is just as fascinating as what I looked at 4 years ago. So, without further delay, let’s take a look at Scenarios of Violence, and see if it’s as good as the other compilation I looked at.

Background
Much like Voices of Transgression, I had a difficult time searching for information about this compilation. Apart from some snipits on wikipedia & other sites, I really can’t tell you anything about this album. This is one of the few times that the music will tell you what’s going on more than any website. Hell, even Kreator’s own site doesn’t have a sliver of info!

Basic Description
Fun but Flawed part 2.

Right away, I got some big Voices of Transgression vibes in just the first few tracks, which is ironic given that it came out 4 years after this one did. At the end of the day, Scenarios of Violence is just a nice collection of songs brought together, and a few surprises thrown in for good measure. In the case of this release, we got 2 previously unreleased tracks, as well as 2 live ones fro the Dynamo Club in Eindhoven, Netherlands in 1988. Slightly better than VoT’s 3 previously unreleased tunes, but not by much.

Best Track
Suicide By Swamps is just the weirdest song in Kreator’s library. There’s not much in the way of Millie’s patented thrash-like howling, as almost all of the singing comes in the form of ethereal-like whispering. The instrumentation goes between loud & thunderous, to strange & just as ethereal as the vocals. The bit with tribal drums at the beginning just adds to the overall weirdness of the song, but I guess it’s said weirdness that attracts me to it in the first place.

Suicide By Swamps

Worst Track
If there’s 1 thing both this & Voices of Transgression have in common, it would have to be that the tracklisting is somewhat disorganized. The songs on here are placed rather haphazardly, but like the previously mentioned compilation, things are organized better on Scenarios of Violence. I think what makes things a little less irritating is that the band wasn’t necessarily trying to capture a period of time in their career. It’s biggest issue, however, is finding a physical copy. I listened to Scenarios of Violence on Youtube, as there aren’t any CDs on Amazon. Your best bet is to either download it or buy the MP3s off of Amazon. There are a small few over in Ebay, but I’ve never used that site.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, click on the link below:

Scenarios of Violence

Overall Impression & Rating
Scenarios of Violence is a fun compilation of music. It might be scattershot in terms of song placement, but because there wasn’t necessarily a timeframe Kreator was capturing, I think they were able to get away with it here. It’s definitely a challenge to find physically, but if by fate the metal gods grant you some good forture, grab it if you have the chance!

Scenarios of Violence gets a 7.5 to 8 out of 10.

And that was my look at Kreator’s first compilation. Just slightly better than the one that would come in 2000, it’s a nice window into what the band was like at the time. Well, I got one more collection of songs to listen to, so join me towards the end of the month. See you then!


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If you’re curious about my Voices of Transgression review, then click on the link below:

Album Review: Kreator's Voices of Transgression (A 90s Retrospective)

Album Review: Megadeth's Capitol Punishment - The Megadeth Years

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome.....to Compilation Month 3!

I know it’s a month late this time, but we return yet again to the world of metal compilations. We’ve looks at a lot of fascinating collections of songs in prior years, and 2021 will be no exception. In fact, things might be more interesting in this still sadly plague-ridden year. To start things off this time around, I’m actually going to be reviewing a compilation I mentioned in 2019. A compilation from a band I’ve taken a look at twice so far on this blog. So sit back, relax, and enjoy my review for Megadeth’s Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years. Let’s begin!

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“The title of the album is an allusion to the band's persistent difficulties with their record label, Capitol Records. Megadeth ultimately left Capitol and signed with Sanctuary Records, but were contractually obliged to release one further album with Capitol, hence the greatest hits compilation. With the exception of material from the band's debut album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, which was released on Combat Records rather than Capitol, the compilation contains songs from all Megadeth's previously released albums at the time, in reverse-chronological order. In addition to the new track "Kill the King", Capitol insisted on the inclusion of "Dread and the Fugitive Mind", a track recorded for the album The World Needs a Hero, then in the production stage. The band agreed simply to release themselves from their obligations to Capitol, but the enmity between band and label was memorialized in the title of the album, intended to demonstrate that working with Capitol was a form of punishment. It is out of print. As of December 2005, Capitol Punishment had sold 200,000 copies in the U.S.”

Reception for the most part was positive. Nick Lancaster of Drowned in Sound complained that there were more tracks from albums like Cryptic Writings and Risk instead of their earlier release. He also took a laser-focused aim at the inclusion of the "ludicrously moronic Crush 'Em", but said that "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" and "Kill the King" were a return to form. In a similar view, Steve Huey of AllMusic also criticized the compilation for focusing more on commercial material at the expense of the band's earlier work, as well as soundtrack songs like  "Go To Hell", "Angry Again" and "99 Ways to Die".

Basic Description
A fantastic thrash medley......that’s just a tiny bit weird.

I find some intriguing parallels between this compilation & Back To The Start in 2019 (Read Here). Mainly, the selection of songs picked for this are fantastic! With one notable exception (See the “Worst Track” section), you’re given a clear picture into Megadeth’s history from the year 2000 to 1986. You saw that correctly: the tracklisting on Capitol Punishment was ordered backwards rather than forwards. It goes from the then modern material, all the way to their earliest days. To make things weirder, this compilation opens up with completely new material, and while that does add to the character of the release it just comes across like record company interference. Yet for the faults presented, Capitol Punishment is a good compilation. There’s more of a casual vibe here, but the music presented is some of Megadeth’s best! Though I’d argue that the compilation the band would release in 2006 has a better selection, Capitol Punishment has some value to it.

Best Track
I said it back in 2019 when I reviewed Back To The Start, and I’ll be repeating myself here, but Kill The King hits like a Mack truck. Sound-wise not that much different than it’s appearance in 2006, this track is the perfect middle finger to any corrupt figure of power. Drums that sound like machinegun fire, guitars that shock the system, and Dave’s patented raspy singing, all come together to create something that is just Thrash magic.

Kill The King

A nice 2nd place track would just so happen to be the tune from their newest album that would come out a year later, Dread and the Fugitive Mind. Gone is any of that commercial feel from the band’s late 90s material, and it seems as if Megadeth went back to their old-school mentality. While the production & sound feel very modern for it’s time, the overall vibe & fell are distinctively Megadeth. I can definitely see why Capitol Records wanted this song on the compilation, as it certainly planted a seed or two in listeners’s minds about what was to come.

Dread and the Fugitive Mind

Perhaps the final positive thing I can say doesn’t come from the music itself, but from the song organization. Whereas Back To The Start is more disorganized & you don’t have a solid picture of their history, Capitol Punishment is perfect in it’s display of the band’s history. You get a good look into their past, and it all leads up to what was current in 2000. Definitely a plus!

Worst Track
Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years is a great compilation of song. From their earliest years to the then current material, you get a pretty clear picture of their history. Like I said above, what’s weird is the ordering: instead of going from old to new, they went from new to old. It’s not bad per se, as the tracklisting is clear & precise, but I find it strange that they decided to start with newer songs instead of old. Also, I find the slight emphasis on tunes from Cryptic Writings odd, and opening this compilation with new tunes also seems odd. Perhaps the most damning negative point about Capitol Punishment is that there is nothing from their first album represented on here, but in Capitol Records’s defense,  Killing Is My Business was released on Combat Records & not them.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years

Overall Impression & Rating
Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years is a fun selection of songs. The ordering of tracks from new to old (Excluding the openers) is easily a strange decision, and the slight emphasis on one record is equally strange. You get the feeling that there was some record company interference, but regardless the compilation is a lot of fun. Capitol Punishment may be for more casual Megadeth fans, but there’s still plenty of material on here that it would satisfy just about anybody that gets there hands on this. Take a listen, and hear for yourself.

Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years gets 7.5 to 8 out of 10.

And that was Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years. Not quite as essential as the compilation that would appear 6 years later, but there’s still a great bushel of song to listen to. With that out of the way, Come back in the middle of May, when some old Germanic friends come by for a visit. See you then!

Anime Review (Trash Anime Mountain): Girls Bravo

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome.....to Trash.....Anime.....Mountain!!!

That’s right, I’m starting a new review series! Okay, maybe not a new series per se. I wanted to categorize the more trashy shows, and sometimes the more obscure shows, into it’s own review category. Doesn’t matter if it’s good, mediocre, or bad: if I know it’s trash, it’s definitely going into this review series. To start off Trash Anime Mountain, I’ll be looking at what may very well be the pinnacle of trash anime. I enjoy it thoroughly, but this has to be one of the most low-brow, juvenile, skin showing, yet oddly charming series I’ve ever watched. It’s so trashy, yet there’s something bizarrely heartfelt about it at the same time. So, be sure that you’re not allergic to girls, keep an eye on your bathtub, and enjoy my review for Girls Bravo. Let’s begin!  

Story/Setup
Taken from the Amazon Editorial Review:

“Yukinari's got girl problems - the poor guy is literally allergic to them. He can't even be in the same room as a girl without getting a rash. It's enough to put any red-blooded male in an awful mood. Here's the good news: things start looking up for Yukinari when he accidentally plays peek-a-boo with the naked girl-next-door. She freaks out and boots him in the face, magically transporting our hero to the coolest place ever - Seiren, a mystical land populated mostly by girls. As soon as he gets there, he meets Miharu, a super-bouncy, carefree cutie who can touch Yukinari without causing a rash! She becomes his roomie on Earth and - well, then it's all bathtubs, swimming pools, hot springs, and you're not even reading this anymore are you?”

Okay, this is what marks Girls Bravo as a denizen of Trash Anime Mountain. This series may very well be the most fan-service thing I’ve ever watched, and considering that 50 to 75 percent of my collection may be fan-service series, that’s saying something! From literarily the first minute of the first episode, you see the titular (Literarily) Miharu looking down into her bath water, her bare body evident to see. In each & every episode you see all kinds of fan-service: panty shots, boob jiggle, maids, tentacles (In 1 episode only), yuri, and just about every typical/atypical thing you can think of. While I am a fan-service junky, even I had to drop my jaw when I saw just how much their was! Because there’s so much, it’s easy to assume that their isn’t much of a story. However.....

There’s a surprisingly good story to Girls Bravo! It’s certainly not the deepest or the most illuminating (The overwhelming fan-service is definitely a contributing factor to this), but it’s well written enough that you’ll pay some attention to what’s going on, and there is a twist or two that’ll actually can catch you off guard. Not world shattering twists mind you, but definitely ones that are earned.

Animation
Right away, you can definitely tell that Girls Bravo is from the age of computer animation. If I’m being a little more honest, I’d say that it looks like there was some drawn work, but was enhanced by computers. It’s aged fairly well: though it’s obvious that it looks & moves like a show from the early to mid 2000s, for the most part it still looks good. The character move fluidly enough, and the various effects seem nice enough. Maybe not an animated marvel, but certainly not a visual abomination.

Voice Acting
Girls Bravo suffers from what I like to call the “Love Hina” syndrome. What do I mean? Well, for the most par the show has some good voice acting. Really good voice acting, if I’m being honest. Most of the characters in the show have a good voice behind, and even secondary character typically have some effort put into them. However, for every good bit of voice acting there’s somebody that’s not doing the best job. The character that I often don’t like speaking is Tomo: a younger character that becomes a main cast member, she’s genuinely very bratty, which is the point of her. Unfortunately, her voice can be rather grating. Again, she’s supposed to be a brat kid, but the voice acting is a little too obnoxious.

Characters
Much like the story, the characters of Girls Bravo are surprisingly good. I can easily understand why somebody wouldn’t like a majority of them. Yukinari can be a bit of a wuss sometimes, Miharu can be a little too ditzy, etc. However, despite the flaws, many of the characters are still highly likable! Yukinari is indeed a wuss, but he does what is right all the time. Miharu is indeed a ditzy, but her empathy & compassion is incredible. This kind of thing happens across most of cast: there’s an issue with them, but there’s also something likable as well. A bit whiplash inducing, but in an odd way adds to the show’s bizarre charm.

Availability & Pricing
Girls Bravo was a Geneon/Pioneer series way back in the day, and finding copies of the full show is exceptionally difficult. Individual volumes can still be found on Amazon, and they’re actually surprisingly well priced ($9.99 starting price for vol. 1). An easier but more expensive option would be the Funimation re-release of the full series under their S.A.V.E. program. This can also be found on Amazon, with starting prices for a new copy at $19.99. Collectors will probably grab the individual DVDs, but a more practical mind will gravitate towards the S.A.V.E. version.

Overall Impression & Rating
Girls Bravo is a far service tornado. You’re getting boobs, butts, and panty shots in your face so often it’s hard to see everything else. Once you do see everything else, you’ll find a likable show. Like I said above, it’s not deep, nor will you find the secrets of life & the universe as you watch, but the series is just a fun, dumb show at the end of the day. Girls Bravo is the kind of anime that you sit down, pop the DVD in, turn your brain off, and just have a fun time. This may not be for everybody, but for those that do want to watch it, they’re in for a hell of a time!

Girls Bravo gets a 7.5 out of 10.

And that was the premier of my Trash Anime Mountain review series, and it was a doozy! I don’t know often I’ll travel to this bizarre mountain, but when I do, you’ll bet that I’ll come back down with something strange. May is soon upon us, and I’ll seen you then with more content. Take care!

Album Review: W.A.S.P.'s Unholy Terror

Welcome back fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

The 3rd of April this year marks the 20-year anniversary one of the most surprising, out of nowhere albums, I’ve ever listened to. An album I wasn’t exactly looking forward to at first, but put aside all apprehensions by the time that I was done. It may mark a permanent shift in a iconic band’s personality & tone, and I can understand why people would be turned off by the music within. However, that should not stop you from enjoying an album that comes right out of nowhere......and it’s from W.A.S.P. no less! So shine up your cross, make sure that your pastor is legit, and enjoy my review for Blackie’s first release of the new millennium, Unholy Terror. Let’s begin!

Background
With the return of Chris Holmes in 1996, the gang would begin a tear in W.A.S.P.’s discography. There was the middle finger to relationships in K.F.D. in 1997, and the seeming return to classic form in Helldorado in 1999. Such a relationship would be put to the test sometime in 2000, when longtime frontman Blackie Lawless would change his life in a big way after becoming a Born-Again Christian, and the transformation of the band would begin. The wilder ways of the previous 2 releases (And by extent most of their 80s past) would go, and instead the socio-political experimentation that was on The Headless Children would return in force (Intertwined with obvious religious imagery).

The first release under this new direction would go by the name of Unholy Terror. Released on the 3rd of April, 2001, the album would show off the new leaf that Blackie turned, but this didn’t sit well with Holmes. He still wanted to be about Rock ‘n’ Roll, partying, & chicks, and didn’t want to think about things like politics or faith. So he left in 2001 (Whether before or after the album came out, I’m not sure), and to this day has claimed he’s never played on Unholy Terror at all. He hooked up with fellow ex-W.A.S.P. member Randy Piper's band Animal, but soon dropped out of that project also, and has since gone solo.

Basic Description
A surprise.

I stated this at the end of part 2 of my overview on W.A.S.P. (Read here), but I’ll say it again: I was not necessarily looking forward to this period of the band. While you can argue that the band’s 90s period was certainly in flux, you could say that Blackie was still having fun in a sense. Yes, 2 of the albums from that time were more serious, but there was still fun to be had. When Lawless first announced that he would become a Born-Again Christian, there were probably a lot of fans that felt a huge sinking feeling, and when I found out about this a few short years ago I got that feeling also. The leader of a Shock Hair Metal band turning a new, more holy leaf, seems like he was selling out just to cater to a new audience. So when I first sat down to begin listening to Unholy Terror, I admit I was hesitant to believe that the music on the record was good. Color me surprised by the time I was done!

Make no mistake: Unholy Terror is a religious album. From top to bottom, Christian imagery is heavily evident, and Blackie’s ego can definitely be felt. However, that would be doing this record a big disservice. Unholy Terror is God’s Not Dead 3 17 years prior to that movie’s release: highly religious, but simultaneously not afraid to criticize & question the very same church that inspired it. It’s not afraid to continuously poke the bear with reasons why people (Particularly young people) would want to leave the Christian church & never come back. It’s surprising at first, and I can still understand why listeners would not get into Unholy Terror due to it’s shift in theme (Especially when you compare it to the album that came out 2 years prior) and tone, but this is an album that’s genuinely worth your time....even if you listen to it just once.

Best Track
Like I said back in 2019, Locomotive Man is my favorite track of Unholy Terror. One of the meatiest songs on the albums (6 minutes & 3 seconds), you can definitely tell that this song takes a jab at all of the fake pastors, preachers, and tele-evangelists that spread their lies, not to mention how said lies whip their followers into a frenzy. It also talks about how blindly many worshipers believe that they’re going to Heaven due to their devotion to these individuals, and that even when presented with evidence some of them will not deter from their beliefs. Easily the most powerful song of the record.

Locomotive Man

Worst Track
Also like I said back in 2019, Unholy Terror doesn’t have any bad songs. From top to bottom, you’re treated to some potent Heavy Metal that’s also not afraid to ask a lot of questions either. The album’s only fault lies with Lawless himself. It’s not that he went Christian per se, but more of the fact that he waited until he became Born-Again, and then trashed the Christian Church afterwards. It gives some serious double agent vibes to me, almost as if he didn’t want to do Unholy Terror until he was already in. Maybe I’m looking at it the wrong way, but maybe I’m not. I’m not sure.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, click on the link below:

Unholy Terror

Overall Impression & Rating
Unholy Terror is, as I said in 2019, a shockingly good album. I can easily understand people’s hesitation getting into Blackie’s more socio-policial/religious period of W.A.S.P. (Not to mention being turned off by his ever increasing ego), but this release shows that he can actually use that side of him for something good, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Much like Stryper, religious people will like it, but Agnostics & even some Atheists might get a kick out of the music on this record. If you’re up for some religious-themed Heavy Metal that’s got a bit of a bite to it, you enjoy Unholy Terror.

Unholy Terror gets a 9 out of 10.

And that was my review of Unholy Terror. The start of W.A.S.P.’s socio-political/religious period, the first release of this new era showed some potential for the band to do some good with this new direction, and with the 2 records after this it showed that they might do so. Alas, it was not to be, but regardless this album is great despite that. Well, tune in a little later this month, for I have the start of a new review series debuting. See you then!

Top 5 Religious Themed Metal Albums You Should Try

Happy Easter fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

I’ve certainly done a bunch of special posts for this holiday. From overviews on Stryper & Grim Reaper, to a review on Tourniquet’s first release & Stryper's only non-Christian record last year, it’s always fun to make treats for all of you. This year’s Easter treat is going to be rather different. Instead of an overview or a review, I wanted to make a list for you. 5 Heavy Metal albums, and they all have a touch of the religious side to them. Some have a lot of faith, why others don’t. Still, I wanted to show off a couple of the albums I came across that seemly oddly appropriate for this time of the year, and who knows.....maybe you’ll like these as well. With that out of the way, here are 5 Religious Themed Metal Albums You Should Try.

(To those who are Atheist or Agnostic, my apologies if this offends you in any capacity. I figured that some of you would get a kick out of this, so if this rubs any of you the wrong way.....my bad.)

1) King Diamond - House of God (Song)

I begin this list with an album that’s probably pure blasphemy among those with faith. King Diamond has never been afraid to show his disdain toward Christianity, and religion by extension. And so with 2000s House of God, he created what is perhaps his most ambitious album to this day. Taking the story of Rennes-le-Château & turning it into an incredibly frightening tale, this record show off the storytelling capabilities of the king. The atmosphere, coupled with the religious imagery, excellent instrumentation, and King’s patented raspy vocals, makes for a great start to the 2000s. It may be a little too clean with it’s production in places, but on sheer scale alone, I have nothing but respect for House Of God, and I enjoy it quite a bit.   

2) Orphaned Land - Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs (Song)

A relative recent release, Orphaned Land’s 2018 offering of metal is a potent one. Fusing together Progressive, Death, and Doom Metal into what is considered to be the origin of Oriental Metal back in 1994, their lyrics were often promoted a message of peace and unity, particularly between the three main Abrahamic religions, and their albums had some concept related to two extremes (A meeting of East and West, past and present, light and darkness, God and Satan, etc). Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs is no exception: perhaps their most aggressive album in certain places, the band’s intent on this record is no different than anything before this release. If you like your metal to have a touch of the exotic, then you might enjoy this!

3) Tourniquet - Stop The Bleeding (Song)

I’ll talk about another Christian Metal icon in a bit, but I do want to mention a group that deserve some time in the light also. Since 1990, the Christian Thrashers known as Tourniquet have embraced Jesus & mosh pits in equal measure, and it was their inaugural release Stop The Bleeding that put them on the map! While other Christian Metal group have a preach-like (But not necessarily abrasive) aspect to them....Tourniquet doesn’t go for that. Instead, their way of showing their faith is through brutal imagery, pounding instrumentation, and fierce vocals. I can understand why Tourniquet might be off-putting for some people, but they are a good alternative for those who like a little more force behind their Christianity.

4) W.A.S.P. - Unholy Terror (Song)

I’ve made a few criticisms towards W.A.S.P.’s frontman Blackie Lawless about his conversion to Christianity & embracing of more conservative politics in part 3 of my overview on the band (Which you can read here), and I still stand by what I said. However, his newfound faith was actually used quite well on the first three releases in the 2000s, and with particular potency on 2001's Unholy Terror. In a weird way it’s sort of the precursor of God’s Not Dead 3: despite very much being rooted in Christian ideology, it isn’t afraid to speak about why people (Especially young people) would want to leave the church & pursue their own path. On top of that, Unholy Terror isn’t necessarily afraid to question the motives of the Christian church, nor is it afraid to tackle issues that Christianity is afraid to here in the United States. It’s such a shame that Blackie would move away from this by the late 2000s, and become perhaps a little too religious & political, but for a brief period of time he was using his newfound faith for a good purpose. This is definitely one terror that isn’t scary!

5) Stryper - Soldiers Under Command (Song)

If I had this list as the “Top 5 Religious Themed Metal Albums You Should Try”, I would have proudly put this band’s second release right at number 1. For almost 4 decades, Soldiers Under Command is not just the definitive Hair Metal record, but also one of if not the most iconic releases in all of Christian Metal. On top of that, this release, whether intentionally or accidentally, helped give that proto Power Metal movement in the 80s a big template to work with! Putting that aside, however, you have perfect balance between the bands patented Hard Rock/Hair Metal sound, and a equally impressive Christian message behind the music. It’s obvious without being in your face. It’s preachy but not condescending, and it also respects listeners who may not be of the faith. The faithful embraced this release, and even a non-believer such as myself (I’m more of an Agnostic with Eastern tendencies) can’t help but smile when this album is playing. If there was ever one religious metal album you should have in your life, I’d say it should be this one.

And those were 5 religious themed metal albums you should try. This was a really fun list for me to make! I love I’ve done overview & reviews in the past, so I figured that something more simplistic was needed this time. I hope you all have a great Easter, and....actually, I got an idea. Join me next Sunday, as we take a look at a unholy terror’s 20 birthday! See you then!


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If you’re curious about listening to these albums, then click on the links below:

House of God

Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs

Stop The Bleeding

Unholy Terror

Soldiers Under Command