Metal Nerdism Vol. 7: Top-10 metal albums that are not albums.

 

... or compilations of recordings that are not exactly an "album" and definitely they are not a "best of" album. In a few cases they are demo recordings that the bands would love to have released as an album when they were recording them (no matter if they don't really believe it now) or compilation releases of specific recordings that mostly didn't make it to any official album or just represent each artist at the moment.

Some of those albums presented herein are considered as "compilations" (and that's correct) while others are considered as "albums" (might not be exactly correct) and one of them was an "album" sometime in the past but not now... Confusing? Might be. But it is also funny.

We don't include:

- "Best of", "Greatest Hits", "The Story So Far" etc. collections - compilations, even if they have an unreleased track or two. For example, Black Sabbath's We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n' Roll and Iron Maiden's Best of the Beast.

- Re-recorded full albums. For example, Manowar's Battle Hymns MMXI and Twisted Sister's Still Hungry.

- Regular live albums recorded during touring, and live album compilations. For example Judas Priest's Priest... Live! and Saxon's The Eagle Has Landed.

- Unplugged, acoustic and orchestral albums or compilations. For example Blind Guardian's The Forgotten Tales.

- Albums including only cover songs from other artists. For example, Ozzy Osbourne's Under Cover and Six Feet Under's Graveyard Classics.

- Tape/Cassette-albums that were also released on CD and/or vinyl format in later years. For example Apollo Ra's Ra Pariah and Axis' No Man's Land. [There is going to be a feature for similar cases in the future]

In every case, there are people who consider that the specific releases of Warlord or Sorcerer listed below, as their best "albums". In a few of those cases, I am among those people. 

written by Andreas Andreou

1. VENOM - The Singles 80-86

If someone will ask me to offer three albums of what Venom were and what made them what they are, I would definitely offer Welcome to Hell, Black Metal and The Singles 80-86. A few of the very best songs of Newcastle's blasphemy appeared in singles only and you have them all here including "Warhead", "Seven Gates of Hell" and "Manitou".

Truth to be told, Venom is probably the metal band with the most compilations ever; we even can write an article like "Top-10 Venom Compilations" and there would be even more! They had already released the double record From Hell to the Unknown... in 1985 including the debut album on disc 1 and a collection of other tracks on disc 2, plus the famous ... Assault releases but the live releases and compilations that followed were so many! I still love a few of them and give them a spin over the years, mostly...

Check also: VENOM - In Memorium
Probably my favourite compilation album ever, including demo recordings, a few "best of" songs, single tracks, alternative versions and unreleased tracks that were first introduced to this release in 1991. The last (new, then) tracks with Tony Dolan on vocals ("If You Wanna War", "Surgery") are massive and never made it to a later album.


2. WARLORD - And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun...

What a rare case of an album! The '80s recordings of Warlord were always confusing people, starting with Deliver Us. The debut mini LP that had the same running time with Saxon's debut album and more than Bathory's debut, still though, it was always advertised and considered as a mini-LP back then but nowadays most people consider it an EP. [Read more about Albums Vs Mini Albums Vs EPs].

And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun... is a very special case that was originally considered as a "live" album even if the band didn't perform any live shows in the '80s. The album included an intro, four songs from the debut mini LP and four new songs with two of them released as a single just a few months before ("Lost and Lonely Days", "Aliens").

In 2011, Crystal Logic presented the first interview of Bill Tsamis' return (even if he didn't really know it at that time) followed by the reissue of the Warlord and Lordian Guard catalogue, the new album The Holy Empire and live shows. In that interview, Bill Tsamis explains: "And the Cannons of Destruction was recorded in the studio and then presented as a live Warlord show (a showcase). Unfortunately, a couple of the cameras weren't working. We had the UCLA film school doing the filming as part of a school project. The vocals on the video were lip synced - there was no way Rick Cunningham could have pulled off that vocal performance live."


3. SORCERER - Sorcerer

The band was formed in Sweden in 1988 and recorded the demo tapes Sorcerer (1989), The Inquisition (1992) and then disbanded when bassist Johnny Hagel left to join Tiamat. It took three years until the moment when John Perez of Solitude Aeturnus formed BrainTicket Records and the first release of his label was a CD including nearly all of the demo recordings of Sorcerer. Those demo recordings remain until today as one of the greatest achievements underground epic doom metal ever offered, and those years  it was the closest thing to Candlemass' debut album.

Sorcerer's fame in the underground metal scene was highly respected thanks to that CD "album" (that's been re-released a couple of times) and during the '90s and '00s you could see their name mentioned every time someone would speak about the greatest bands of epic doom metal. The Swedish band was reformed a few years later with a different line-up, joined Metal Blade Records and kept releasing albums. The songs from the Sorcerer release were never re-recorded so far and never appeared in any of the Sorcerer albums.


4. REVEREND BIZARRE - Death Is Glory... Now

The album compilation to end all compilations is a collection of all the split, singles, EP recordings of the '00s masters of doom besides their three official albums and the two "EP-albums" (Harbinger of Metal, Return to the Rectory). Taking its place next to the albums, Death Is Glory... Now is a glorious release that a certain member of the band considers as Reverend's greatest release. A must-have release for all fans of doom metal, at least equally with many of the genre's greatest albums. The Finnish doom-an'-gloom mongers along with a few others, served as the gatekeepers of (true) doom metal in a period where the rites of Black Sabbath were claimed by the stoner-desert-sludge heavy music that ruled the media and festivals. In the end, Reverend Bizarre's life and death is a huge part of doom metal's soul.


5. SLAUTER XSTROYES - Free the Beast

Released for the first time in 1998 and widely considered as Slauter Xstroyes' second "album", this is actually a release including the recordings of the second Xstroyes' album that was supposed to be released in 1987, but the sessions were left incomplete. The Free the Beast release includes six tracks of that supposed second album and six more tracks recorded during 1981-1984. Chicago's underground metal legend was a unique band with a sick character and technical over-the-top songwriting and performance ahead of its time. When Free the Beast saw the light of day after a decade hidden in the catacombs, everything was changed. Still though and after all these years, the name of Slauter Xstroyes is always mentioned in conversations that will include bands from the '80s like WatchTower up to the bands of today, like Sacral Rage.

Check also: ENERGY VAMPIRES - Energy Vampires


6. JACOBS DREAM - Jacobs Dream

Nowadays known as Demo '96 or Demo, Jacobs Dream first release in 1996 was spread in the world of underground metal as a self-financed private album. There were already a few different pressings in 1996 since its impact was huge in the underground metal scene, and the one with the cover pictured here had also "Jacobs Dream Records" written in the back, bought from the author of this blog directly from the band those days. Four years later, Jacobs Dream joined Metal Blade Records releasing a self-titled album (the band's second release) and that was presented as the "first" album, so the previous release was "downgraded" to a demo and remained like this since then, even if we knew it in the late '90s, as an "album".

The 2000 Metal Blade release (the debut album as it is now considered) had only one song from the debut release but both of them stand among the best US power metal releases of their time and even more.

Check also: THYNN ICE - Thynn Ice


7. VIRGIN STEELE - The Book of Burning

Despite their iconic '80s albums like Guardians of the Flame (1983) and Noble Savage (1985), after the release of the melodic metal album Life Among the Ruins in 1993, started a period where Virgin Steele became one of the epic heavy metal rulers. After the two parts of The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Invictus and the two acts of The House of Atreus, David DeFeis released The Book of Burning in 2002. Until then, he had already re-released Noble Savage and Age of Consent including new recorded songs enough for another album and few of them were better than the songs of the old albums. That's how good he was during the '90s but what about The Book of Burning? Well, it's considered as an album by many people but it is not really an "album". It includes a few new recordings of classic songs from the first two Virgin Steele albums when Jack Starr was the axeman but most important, you can find here the compositions DeFeis and Starr wrote together during a session in 1997  that didn't lead anywhere. Songs like "Rain of Fire", "Hellfire Woman" and "The Chosen Ones", plus a few more, everything re-arranged in order to make a proper sequence that can be presented as a "new album".


8. STEEL ASSASSIN - From the Vaults

While the first official album of Steel Assassin was released in 2007 under the title War of the Eight Saints, it was the From the Vaults compilation album that brought that name back in the underground metal fans' attention in 1997. The "Executioner" song was known from its appearance in the Metal Massacre VI compilation of Metal Blade Records released in 1985 but the name of Steel Assassin remained to obscurity. Rising from the vaults, this compilation album of Steel Assassin is the true spirit of the underground US epic power metal scene. Recorded in the first half of the '80s, that line-up also includes the steel lungs of Doni Escolas and it can only be matched by bands like Tyrant and Omen those years.

Check also: AXEHAMMER - Lord of the Realm


9. RAGE - Lingua Mortis

or Lingua Mortis - Rage and the Symphonic Orchestra Prague, since in 2013 there was also an album using the "band-performers" name Lingua Mortis Orchestra. The difference is that the 2013 release was produced and mostly written and arranged by guitarist Victor Smolski, consisting of new material, while the 1996 release presented here, consists of existing Rage compositions re-arranged with orchestra. It was a matter of time someone doing a metal album with orchestra and Rage managed to be written in the books of history as the first metal band that did it, in 1996. Lingua Mortis is mostly considered as an album and it definitely gave a breath of fresh air for a while, but talking for a release that actually has a "re-arrangement" of previously released songs, it might be something different.


10. MERCYFUL FATE - Return of the Vampire

Originally released in 1992, one year before the release of Mercyful Fate's reunion album In the Shadows, Return of the Vampire is an official release of early '80s demo material that has been bootlegged so much over the years. A few songs were lately re-worked and appeared in the albums, others less ("Curse of the Pharaohs"), others more ("Death Kiss" that became "A Dangerous Meeting), others remained to obscurity ("Burning the Cross"). A few of the sessions were from Michael Denner's band named Danger Zone, where King Diamond and Hank Shermann were helping and led Denner joining Mercyful Fate, along with bassist Timi Hansen and drummer "Old" Nick Smith who was later replaced by Kim Ruzz. The "Return of the Vampire" track was also re-worked and appeared in the 1993 reunion album with Lars Ulrich of Metallica performing drum duties.

Check also: SILVER MOUNTAIN - Before the Storm


What's your favourite "album" that's not really an "album"?

The albums we enjoyed most in 2017

The usual prologue would be that no one can say that have listened to almost everything that was released during 2017. Everyone who claims that, and posting the "best" and "top" lists is wrong so we will speak just for our favorite releases and the albums we enjoyed most in 2017. 2016 was better and it seems that 2018 will be also better, but there were some solid releases during 2017. Also, you need to check the physical format to have the complete experience of an album, and not just have a quick listen on social networks, downloads or whatever. There are also the unlucky ones (the albums that released during December) that haven't got all the proper attention, since a few plays are never enough.

So, which are our favorite 10 albums?

1. Eloy - The Vision, The Sword And The Pyre (Part I)
After years of hard work, Frank Bornemann finally makes one of his dreams come true with this first part of a rock opera dedicated to Jeanne d'Arc. This is not a typical Eloy release (if there is such a thing) but it is dreamlike and a triumph of artistic music for 2017.

2. Painful Pride - Lost Memories
Decades in the making, this is the debut album of an unsung obscure heroic band from Sweden. Formed in 1983 (!) they finally recorded the songs that was the soundtrack of their youth. I can't be very objective since I was involved with the creation of this album over the last years but you have to listen to this one. Melodic metal that will bring in mind the glorious 80s Swedish metal scene and also early-Def Leppard and Praying Mantis. Bittersweet melodies, emotional performance and great songwritting with highlights tracks like "Lost Memories", "Visions" and "A Thousand Lies". These memories will never be lost.

3. Wrathblade - God Of The Deep Unleashed
Epic metal holocaust by one of the underground leading forces of the genre. Unbound and powerful, "God Of The Deep Unleashed" is the next logical step after the great debut album of 2012. Less straight-forward, with better arrangments and amazing rhythm section (especially the drum parts) this is THE epic metal release of 2017.

4. Sorcerer - The Crowning Of The Fire King
Second full-length album of the Swedish Epic Doom legend. Some fans stick only to the demo-era of Sorcerer, but no matter how much I love the demo-era I cannot ignore the new great albums, especially when you have solid songwriting, Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath elements ("Abandonded By The Gods") and amazing guitar melodies. Just listen to "Unbearable Sorrow", one of the best songs for 2017. The digipak CD version has 2 more songs.

5. Arduini / Balich - Dawn Of Ages
Victor Arduini (ex-Fates Warning) and Brian Balich (Argus) unite forces and create one of the most unexpected releases of 2017. With Black Sabbath as the most notable influence, "Dawn Of Ages" is the biggest surprise of 2017. The 17min "Beyond The Barricade" is a mammoth song and tracks like "Forever Fade", "The Wraith" are among the best ones for 2017. The double vinyl version has 3 bonus tracks (covers from Uriah Heep, Beau Brummels and Black Sabbath)

6. Night Demon - Darkness Remains
This power trio is probably the hottest new traditional heavy metal band around. Most likely they have already surpassed other acts that were supposed to claim this title. Energy, power, fast and mean riffs, catchy songs and influences from 80s Iron Maiden and Neat Records' bands dominate "Darkness Remains" and if you have the chance to see them live, do not miss it!

7. Jacobs Dream - Sea Of Destiny
The same-titled album of 2000 was a revelation (following the equal shock of the 1996 release) and more albums followed over the years but somehow the momentum was lost for Jacobs Dream. Private released, "Sea Of Destiny" lacks of production but there are some great songs, like "Into The Night", that bring in mind the days of glory. While this album passed unnoticed, go out there and find it! 

8. Air Raid - Across The Line
And now, this is evolution. I really loved "Danger Ahead" EP and "Night Of The Axe" but the previous album ("Point Of Impact") didn't work for me. Air Raid added influences from maestro Yngwie Malmsteen and the band reached new levels of excellency.

9. Doomocracy - Visions & Creatures Of Imagination
Sorrowful and eerie, with exotic melodies, stronger Solitude Aeturnus elements and more power, the second album of Doomocracy is a skillful and passionate offering to the altar of epic doom metal.

10. Accept - The Rise Of Chaos
It's Accept. I has to be on the list. Otherwise you will die by the sword.

10 more albums we enjoyed (in alphabetical order):

Argus - From Fields Of Fire
I remember like yesterday the debut album of Argus and now they are already on the fourth full-length release. There is a certain quality in each album and "From Fields Of Fire" is no exception.

Caronte - YONI
Shamanic ritualistic doom. Weird, different and unorthodox, it is not recommended for all traditional (or epic) doomsters but it has a mystical and dark aura that you will love or hate. And NO, this is not stoner.

The Doomsday Kingdom - The Doomsday Kingdom
When I first listened TDK I thought that Mats Leven would fit better on vocals since the songs sounded like they needed his voice. Later and over many listens Niklas Stalvind (Wolf) really sounds suitable and he does a great job with the way he performs the visions, dreams and nightmares of The Doomfather. Leif Edling is a living legend and legends cannot really fail.

Jono - Life
That also came out of nowhere and has a variety of elements and influences that are mixed perfectly to create a diverse album. There are influences from Queen, Journey, Supertramp, Kansas (of all eras), melodic rock with symphonic and progressive elements plus the amazing voice of Johan Norrby. Once you will listen to this album, there is no return.

Lord Vigo - Blackborne Souls
Second album of the doomsters from Germany that follows the steps of their debut adding more maturity and diversity. Heavy, strong, paranormal, gothic and sorrowful, "Blackborne Souls" came out just the first days of 2017 and therefore many people missed it from their top-lists.

Lunar Shadow - Far From Light
The highlight of the album is the guitar parts and the maturity on songwriting. It would be much better if there was better production and more powerful vocals but Lunar Shadow have a kind of underground eccentricity that makes me wait of even better things by them in the future.

Necrytis - Countersighns
Well, that's the kind of US metal we miss. Don't you agree?

Pagan Altar - The Room Of Shadows
While this is far from the classic albums of Pagan Altar, you cannot let the solid guitar work of Alan Jones pass unnoticed. This is indeed a special and emotional release for 2017.

Sanhedrin - A Funeral For The World
These guys know how to write hooks and perform a catchy blend of hard rock, traditional metal and doom, making you feel that you listen something familiar. "Riding On The Dawn" is one of the best opening tracks of 2017.

Venom Inc - Avé
They hAvé returned. Mantas, Abaddon and The Demolition Man deliver pure blood stained prime evil forged in Hell and they bleed metal. Avé Satanas.

Best EP: Open Burn - Open Burn

Here we have three Lethal members (Dave Hull, Glen Cook, Jerry Hartman) with a new singer playing high quality US metal. Of course, singer Eric Johns is not Tom Mallicoat, but since we cannot have a new Lethal album, "Open Burn" is a close substitute but most important there are some great songs here.

Best compilation: Hour Of 13 - Salt The Dead: The Rare And Unreleased

Including the early demo versions of the songs that ended on the Hour Of 13 debut album (one of the best albums of the millennium) plus other rarities and the last official recording of the band, the amazing "Upon Black Wings We Die".
 

Best live album: Black Sabbath - The End

There is no end for immortality, but this is definitely the best live album of 2017. "The End" is the last live performance of the greatest metal band of all times, in the birthplace of metal, Birmingham. This is nearly a perfect live album, just one thing is missing.

Best reissue: Hittman - Hittman

You might find better albums that were reissued in 2017 (f.e. from Running Wild), but this is how a reissue should be done. Remastered from the original sources, with great unreleased bonus tracks (some of them better than the album songs) and huge booklet with many unpublished photos, complete lyrics, liner notes and everything with the arrangment of the original band members. Also, this is an undeniable killer piece of US metal.

Honorable mentions:

Desolation Angels - "King", Emerald - "Voice For The Silent", Hellwell - "Behind The Demon's Eyes", Knight Area - "Heaven And Beyond", Mausoleum Gate - "Into A Dark Divinity", Millennium - "Awakening", Oz - "Transition State", Professor Emeritus - "Take Me To The Gallows", Reflection - "Bleed Babylon Bleed", Walpyrgus - "Walpyrgus Nights", The Wizards - "Full Moon In Scorpio", Jack Starr's Burning Starr - "Stand Your Ground".

What are we looking forward for 2018?

Judas Priest ("Firepower") and Saxon ("Thunderbolt") will have their new albums during 2018 and once legends are on stage, metal is always sharp. But I strongly believe that "White Horse Hill" from outsider Epic Doom Metal masters Solstice, will be the revelation of 2018. Other than that, Heir Apparent was supposed to have the new album ready for 2017, so I assume that this will be finally completed during 2018, while during this year we are also expecting from two other legendary acts to enter studio after many years: Psychotic Waltz and Saviour Machine.

After their debut EP, that had limited distribution and promotion and came in the form of CD-R, we are expecting a debut full-length album from Open Burn, and also the second part of "The Vision, The Sword And The Pyre" by art rock legends, Eloy.

While Visigoth and Evil-Lyn have ready their new albums (and both of them are very strong), everyone expects what the next step will be for Eternal Champion and we hope that a new album will be out during 2018.

Canadian metal soldiers Sword will enter studio for new material and Pharaoh, one of the best US metal acts of 00s will also release a new album diring 2018. Any other project - release of Chris Black is also more than welcome.

Have a great, happy and healthy 2018!