Album of the day #14. Metallica - Death Magnetic

Metallica is a really important band for me. The trash classics of the 80s have greatly influenced the development of metal music, and compositions like "One", "Master Of Puppets" and "Creeping Death" are already so much larger than life that many bands can only dream of it all. I'm still not deaf either, and I have to admit that the band hasn't really released anything particularly strong since 1991's "Metallica". This also applies to "Death Magnetic".

First of all, the album is way too long. 9 out of 10 songs are over 6 and a half minutes long and the interest doesn't last until the end, not at all. The songs are also very weak in terms of quality, with a few exceptions. "The Day That Never Comes" is not a masterpiece, but it's actually the only one of the songs on the album that you can listen to without great sympathy. The mixing of the album is absurdly bad, and Kirk Hammet, who is known from the 80's album, shines in his absence. The solos don't work and there is a certain lack of motivation in the playing. So there is not much good.

Although it is not the weakest album of the band's career, it is close. Metallica has done so much for the metal music community that nothing more can be demanded from the band. But the harsh truth is that at the moment the band has nothing to offer. And probably never will be again. Pity, but what can you do. So there's nothing but "Master Of Puppets" to play, there's still a hungry and ambitious band working in it, like the opposite of the current one.

Climax: The Day That Never Comes

Anticlimax: Practically all other songs and Kirk Hammet's work. ... See More

Album of the day #13. Slayer - Season In The Abyss

Slayer is a band that has taken me a lot of patience to get to know. When listened to suddenly, the music just sounds like pure mayhem and the raping of instruments. If you look more closely (or maybe listen?), you can find a lot of wonderful melodies and technical skills in the music. Especially from the band's last "classic" album, "Seasons In The Abyss".

The album has a very strong track from beginning to end. There aren't really any weak moments, and e.g. Melodic yet menacing songs like "Dead Skin Mask" and the title track can easily be classified as masterpieces and classics. Of course, there is also more mediocre material, but mainly the level is high. The production is also suitably rich, thanks to credit producer Rick Rubin. The cover art is also menacingly beautiful as usual.

The album is definitely one of the band's best, and the band was never able to surpass this again. This may have been partly influenced by the fact that after the album the line-up broke up and the first recording after this with "the only real line-up" was seen in 2006, when the magic had already faded into non-existence. That's why it's worth listening to the old classic again, it has never failed, and it never will.

Climax: War Ensemble, Dead Skin Mask, Seasons In The Abyss

Anticlimax: Temptation (It's still good) ... See More

Album of the day #13. Judas Priest - British Steel

Judas Priest, "British Steel". It's a really difficult album to judge because it's already connected to so many legends and myths and it has grown into one of the most famous albums of all time. It's still not perfect, not even close.

Although the album contains a lot of great material (especially the first three tracks) there is also some rather weak and boring ones, and although the album is talked about as a true Heavy Metal album, in my opinion it is far from it. It's more of a Hard Rock album covered with heavy influences, which also includes hints of other genres. Of course, Halford's vocals are at the usual high level and the production of the album is great. But is it really the perfect album that changed the music world, I think not.

Priest would make their best records of their career between 1982 and 1990, and "British Steel" was just a successful rehearsal for what the band would do later. Despite its legendary status, the album isn't any better than even its predecessors, but it's not bad either and is brilliantly entertaining in its circumstances. And who hasn't heard "Breaking The Law" at some point? A classic is a classic, no matter what you do with it.

Climax: Breaking The Law

Anticlimax: You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise, The Rage ... See More

Album of the day #12. Nightwish - Wishmaster

Nightwish's "Wishmaster" album is generally considered to be one of the band's weakest and most forgettable albums, a clear interlude between the excellent "Oceanborn" and "Century Child". I'm almost of the same opinion myself, but for a "weak interlude" the album is still excellent.

Although the song material does not contain as many hits or masterpieces as many other Nightwish albums, the whole is still great, and there are practically no weak moments, if you forget the existence of the rather boring ballad "Two For Tragedy". The production side also works, and every member of the band is equally in a big role.

And what ultimately makes "Wishmaster" more forgettable is, in addition to the lack of hits, the lack of uniformity and the lack of progress. Nightwish has done something new and revolutionary on practically every album in their career, except for this record, why is it practically just "worse than 'Oceanborn'". It's still not a bad album, and partly it's also underrated. I strongly recommend listening to it right away, the album's power has not faded in a quarter of a century.

Climax: She Is My Sin, Wishmaster

Anticlimax: Two For Tragedy ... See More

Album of the day #11. Stratovarius - Twilight Time

To be honest, Stratovarius has always been a bit of a conflicted band for me. Even though the band has made many true masterpieces and absolute classics, the band's discography also has quite a few lows and confusing releases. In the latter category belongs the band's debut, "Fright Night", a vague and poorly produced freak with a shocking vocal. Instead, the orchestra's second album, "Twilight Time", is clearly a stronger work.

With the album, the band has finally found its own style, at least partially. The song material is also stronger and there are also some really great songs, of which the great "The Hands Of Time" shines the brightest. Tolkki's vocal performance is also at least a little more convincing. It's still not a masterpiece, and there's a lot of crap on the album, but clearly less than on the debut, and it's definitely an important development step in the band's career towards the top.

All in all, it's a great follow-up to a weak debut, but playing against Stratovarius' comprehensive career, it's still a rather modest performance. The album is still worth listening through because it can surprise you and you can already see the classic Stratovarius elements.

Climax: The Hands Of Time, Out Of The Shadows

Anticlimax: Metal Frenzy, The Hills Have Eyes ... See More