The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 12: 60-51

60. Dimmu Borgir- Stormblast MMV - This rerecording of Dimmu Borgir's seminal second album has a faceless Satanic creature adorn it.








 
59. Cannibal Corpse- The Wretched Spawn- The ninth album by  the reigning death metal's masters of gore has a sick/ kick ass cover by Vincent Locke. In it, a nude woman, surrounded by monsters, gives birth to a monster that rips right out of her.







58. Sodom- Persecution Mania- The second album from these German thrashers saw them moving away from the black metal and Satanic themes of the first album and into war and politics. The cover of a solider with a gas mask and an M16 assault rifle perfectly captures that.






57. Death- Scream Bloody Gore- The debut album, and first true death metal album in the world, from the fathers of that brutal subgenre is a classic. And, also classic is its' grim reaper filled cover.








56. Kreator- Phantom Antichrist (deluxe edition)- While both covers are cool, I'll give the edge to the deluxe edition of the thirteenth studio album by these German thrashers. The fantastical cover has their mascot seemingly ruling over a mystic land.






55. Morbid Angel- Blessed Are the Sick- The second release from this Floridan death metal act is a classic. It is also the first death album, that I ever bought, and as such has a special place in my dark heart. The amazingly beautiful and evil cover is from the painting "Les Trésors de Satan" by Jean Delville.






54. Pantera- Vulgar Display of Power- This sixth album from Pantera is one of the greatest ever made in the history of the genre. And, it's vicious photographic cover by Brad Guice, where a man gets punched in the face (reportedly he got hit thirty times!!), really captures the raw power and brutality from this classic.





53. Exodus- Tempo of the Damned- The sixth album by these thrashers has a cool cover that is seemingly inspired by the Phantom of the Opera.








52. Suffocation- Pinnacle of Bedlam- The seventh studio effort by Suffocation has one of my favorite covers from last year. Artist Raymond Swanland gives us a monster holding flaming scales.

 





 
51. Dimmu Borgir- In Sorto Diaboli- Dimmu bookends this part of my list with their eighth studio effort. In it's cover we see a Baphomet with boobs. Which proved too much here in the US, where it had to be covered by a slipcase. Regardless, or more so because of the controversy, this remains a beautiful, cool, and evil cover by artist Joachim Luetke.

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 11: 70-61

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 10: 80-71

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 9: 90-81 

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 7: 110-101 

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 6: 120-111 

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 5: 130-121

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 4: 140-131 

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 3: 150-141

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 2: 160-151

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 1: 175-16

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The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 3: 150-141

150. Bolt Thrower- War Master- This death metal classic has a cover that looks like something of a power metal band, but who cares?! It's fucking badass and looks like someone was having a total Conan The Barbarian moment in mind!

149. White Zombie- Super Sexy Swinging Sounds- This remix album has a simple but cool and sexy throwback to 60s pin-ups covers, which I simply love! 

148. Danzig- Danzig- The iconic Danzig skull appears half way on the cover. Open up the CD or LP and you see the whole damn thing. Simple but so cool and most definitely evil looking! The use of shadow and the black background is just perfect!!

147. Amon Amarth- Surtur Rising- The mythological giant, Surtr, battles vikings on the cover of the eight studio album from the Swedish melodic, viking death metal band.

146. Exodus- Shovel Headed Kill Machine- The seventh album by these Bay Area thrashers has a really sweet looking sci-fi inspired tank, skulls, big guns, and splattered blood. Do you really need anything more in a heavy metal album cover?

145. Drain STH- Freaks of Nature- The second and final album from this all female alt-metal band has a simple but great looking band cover. It has two elements we all appreciate: four beautiful women and fire. It's hot in multiple ways!

144. Deadlands- Evilution- The debut album from this thrash band has a nude girl with no nipples, a stitched up stomach, wearing a gas mask, and somehow connected to a machine full of wires. Creepy, cool, and kind of sexual.

143. KoRn- Follow the Leader- Comic book artists Gregg Capullo and Todd McFarlane did the cover to KoRn's third album. A little girl leads a group of kids to the edge of, and probably off of of, a cliff.

142. Dark Angel- Time Does Not Heal- The forth, final, and, in my book, best album from thrash band Dark Angel has a pretty and clearly scared blonde, as creepy men are hidden in shadows in back of her in some alley. It's a nicely shot and scary photographic cover.

141. Burzum- Hvis Lyset Tar Oss- The title means "If the Light Takes Us Away" in Norwegian and is the third album from the solo project. The cover is from a drawing by 19th century artist Theodor Kittelsen named Fattigmannen (The Pauper).It features a dead body, crows, and a desolate path, in other words a place that is just filled with happiness and joy! 




The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 1: 175-161

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 2: 160-151

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Songs With the Band's Own Name In the Title

This is one of those blogs, that came birthed out of pure boredom, but I think it's a fun one, nonetheless.

I was listening to some song, truthfully, I forget what it was. When, I asked what other bands have their name in the song title. I asked this some time back on my Twitter, but got no reaction. It was when I asked again last week, that I got some answers, and so here we go! The songs are in no particular order whatsoever. They are followed by my random thoughts on them. Enjoy!



Actually this is one of my fav Deicide songs. And, it comes form their self-titled debut album. Which is too say Deicide Deicide, Deicide!



Here Joey signs the Neil Turbin era song Anthrax. It's a cool song, but it's sadly no longer part of their set, at least not to my knowledge. The original version can be found on Fistful of Metal, the debut by Anthrax.



I fucking LOVE this Exodus song!!! Which is why I can't believe I forgot about this one! Thankfully one of my friend's reminded me over on Twitter. It's from their classic debut (hmm, noticing a trend here?) Bonded by Blood. That's still their best album, me thinks. Oh, yeah the lyrics on this one, might be the best of this batch of songs!



A friend/ follower on Twitter reminded me about this one. It's from, yep you guessed it, their debut album, entitled... wait for it... Kiss!!! A decent and catchy little track.



One of the most controversial bands on this list, this kick ass song is from their, yep, debut album. The title of that one? Body Count, of course!!! Yes kiddies, another triple namer (is that even word?) Great song, by the way, from one of my fav albums of the 90s.



Another song from the first Body Count album. I like this one even more. Great vid too, with footage from one of my fav Van Damme movies the ultra-violent, sci-fi/ actioner Universal Solider.



This one was bought up by another one of my friends on Twitter. Cool song from my fav power metal act.



Yes, another song from a debut album! And, another one where the name can be said thrice! Metal Church Metal Church, Metal Church! Whatever the case might be this is very cool song by a great thrash band, that also had some power metal mixed in, for good measure.



From their first album Iron Maiden, this classic was original sang, of course, by Paul DiAnno. In this live footage it's sung by Dickinson. Regardless, it's always part of their setg. And, it's a fun song to hear and sign. By the way, if your looking for a cool cover of this song check out the one done by Trivium.



Definitely my fav song from this band, this song makes me wanna shake my booty. But, I would prefer said booty shaking was done by a hot girl, extra points if said girl is Asian!



This most recent of these songs, and the one of the few ones with an actual video. Plus, I think it's the only that does NOT come from a debut album! I am not a big fan of this album, but this is song is OK I suppose. Still, Dimmu Borgir is one of my fav bands, so...

P.S. I was thinking of including Suicidal Maniac by Suicidal Tendencies, but not sure that counts, really, as only part of the name is in the title. So, let's give it an honorable mention.

Any other songs that I am missing? If so let me know!

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Now playing: Satyricon - K.I.N.G.
via FoxyTunes

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Exodus- The Atrocity Exhibition- Exhibit A

This Exodus is the second album with Rob Dukes, the third signer the thrash metal legends have had in their illustrious careers. With this album, I really think Rob has come into his own, as far as his place in Exodus is concerned.

The album opens with the instrumental Call to Arms. It then rips into the blistering Riot Act, the first single off the album, and just proceeds to run right over you like a Mack truck being driven at thunderous speeds. Songs like Funeral Hymn, Children of a Worthless God, and The Atrocity Exhibition exhibit the best aspects of classic thrash metal: fast, heavy, and pissed off.

Technically the band sounds tight with fast, ripping guitar riffs, pounding drums, and blistering leads. The talents of both guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Altus are at full order, here. Lyrically, the album is mostly anti-Christian, although the aforementioned Children of a Worthless God is anti-Islam.

Whatever the case maybe, Exodus prove they stand the test of time. While, some thrash legends like Metallica have abandoned the genre; Exodus have stood to their guns and delivered an awesome, ear bleeding experience. It should be dually noted that the slip cover hides the original artwork, which I guess was deemed offensive by some moron. Whatever the case maybe, the cool looking artwork rounds this must have for thrash metal fans everywhere. **** out of *****

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The Top 10 Thrash Metal bands Ever

Like I said over on my myspace, thrash metal is my absolute fav type of metal. So, here then is my comprehensive list of the Top Ten thrash Metal bands of all Time:

1. When, Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica it was the best thing that could happen to metal. Because, Megadeth is not just the best thrash metal band, ever, but my personal fav band in the whole world. Mustaine is one of the greatest guitarists the world has ever seen. And, Megadeth have made some many classic albums and songs; as well being one of the most technically sounding bands, ever. Plus, they have some of the coolest covers, ever! Their best album remains Rust in Peace, a technically ferocious godlike work that leaves your jaw dropping and your headbanging away till it falls off.
2. They sign about Satan, hell, the occult, evil, Nazis, war, atrocities, death, murder, serial killers, horror, and other unsavory subject matter, with amazing power and viciousness. Their mosh pits are legendary in their brutality. Their music controversial, but loved by both fans and critics. No list of great metal bands would be complete without them. Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman play the twins guitars with amazing speed and quality. While, Lomabardo is one of the finest drummers, ever, in any genre. Many will swear by Reign in Blood, but I prefer Season in the Abyss. Why? Because that is one of the albums that truly changed my life. Slayer has amongst the most ardent fan following anywhere, and rightfully so.
3. Listening to filth like St. Anger, Load, and Reload, it is many times hard to believe that, in the first four Metallica albums lie four of the greatest thrash metal albums ever. Kirk Hammet has said that Metallica invented thrash metal. While, this is debatable, what is not debatable is the magnificence of their early work. One of the first thrash metal bands to not be afraid to slow things down in masterpieces like Fade to Black and yet play blistering music like Creeping Death, Damage Inc, The Four Horsemen, etc, Metallica were metal gods. Master of Puppets remains their best work, as well as the best metal album, ever, thrash or otherwise.
4. Mixing heaviness without right fun Anthrax rounds the big four of thrash metal, with the aforementioned three other bands. Yeah, they were one of the first bands to bring rap to metal, and their work with John Bush had a different feel that the Joey era stuff. But, the real point is that when it came down to it they made some killer music. And, they help bring moshing to metal. So, now you did not just bang your head, but you thrash around and got busted up. Fuck yeah! I actually prefer John Bush signing and Sound of White Noise is one of my fav albums, but the Joey era is more in tune with classic sounding thrash metal, and some purists will say that is all that matters. For them, I pick Persistence of Time, the best album of that era. And, by the way, is Charlie Bennatte an amazing drummer or what?
5. Often underrated, and unjustly so, the best damn band to ever come out of Jersey (it sure as hell ain’t Bon Jovi!), Overkill are fucking heavy as hell and, when the song fits it, fast as fuck. With songs filled with badass attitude Overkill destroy much of the competition. Horrorscope is their best work, being immensely heavy and utterly and completely awesome.
6. What can be said about the band that made THE definitive song about mosh in the form of The Toxic Waltz? Yeah, they have had three different signers, but guess what? The quality of the music has never, ever suffered. Their debut Bonded by Blood is one of the greatest and most influential thrash metal albums ever put on this Earth. Exodus, at their best, make you wanna beat the crap out of someone. All hail!
7. Chuck Billy truly has one of the best voices in all of thrash metal. He can sign a ballad (The Legacy) or rip your fucking head off with his ferocity (Dog-Faced Gods). The same can be said of the band. Souls of Black remains my fav album, a great mix of melody and brutality, but arguments can be made for the viciousness of The New Order.
8. Germany proved they can thrash with the best of them. In fact, Kreator’s heaviness would be influential in the creation of death metal. Coma of Souls is one fucker you can hear a million times and never tire. And, guess what? They still have it. See the amazing Enemy of God for proof.
9. by mixing hardcore punk and thrash Suicidal set themselves apart from the rest of the thrash metal heap. Their later day work incorporated more melody and more metal, and me thinks, their best work, as evident by Lights, Camera, Revolution.
10. Much like the rest of the supposed second tier thrash metal bands like Exodus and Testament, Nuclear Assault don’t get the respect they deserve, but if you listened to stuff like Something Wicked, you would know they deserve to get much more respect.

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