Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > Black Metal Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > M

Advantages: They've put effort into their lyrics
Disadvantages: Bit pretentious [but fun]

Cradle of Filth's 5th album has a special place in my heart; it was the first I ever bought, and if it's the first you're considering buying, I definitely recommend it as an introduction to them. There's a sense of humour present here that I haven't felt on their other albums. It features the single 'Her Ghost In the Fog' - released in 2000, which might be why it's such a popular album [I think it was shown on MTV]. Let's be honest: they're screechy ...
...'em, right? They make good use of volume and tone on this CD, and the contrast between organ music and crashing metal makes for an interesting sound. For the first few listens, you might want to read along using the album sleeve...then, once you've heard each track a few times, you'll be able to pick out what they're saying. Enjoy. ... Read review

Advantages: Complex music, great riffs, great male and female vocals
Disadvantages: Swearing, 1 pointless track

...black metal, their 4th album Midian was the album to make them more popular among the metal scene. The album starts of the wonderful instrumental track "At The Gates Of Midian" 1) At The Gates Of Midian In my opinion Cradle Of Filth overdo it a little when it comes to instrumentals and they end up having to many, but this is one of my favourite instrumental tracks by the band, it starts of quietly, and builds up into beautiful keyboards, which ...
...2) Cthullu Dawn Cthullu Dawn has a nice little keyboard intro before blasting into a heavy riff, which is followed by a dual lead guitar lick, and blast beats, and next in comes Dani's trademark scream, the verse is very fast, the chorus is haunting with some strange operatic vocals over the top of Dani's screams, the song breaks down near the end, and ends on a slower note. 3) Saffrons Curse Saffrons Curse starts of at a slower and less heavier ... Read review

Advantages: Some decent topics discussed, very experimental
Disadvantages: Not fun or cheerful

...band. The band's 3rd album Penis Envy which helped mould the band's more serious, political and less matcho style which differed from their first 2 albums was released in 1981 on the band's own label Crass Records. The band features Eve Libertine (originally the band's first fan) and Joy De Vivre on vocals, the main issue I have with this is that I simply don't like their voices. Harsh, high and militant they certainly get their message across but ...
...sure that's what the band were looking for but there are plenty of bands who have succeeded in getting political messages across (U.K. Subs, Bob Marley and even Carcass without sounding as unattached from sing-song than these two girls) The messages in the songs are at times interesting, often involving quite indepth stuff either in psychology or politics but at the end of the day, it's just no fun and the constant experimenting with different sounds ... Read review

Advantages: Plenty of classic tunes
Disadvantages: Could have added a few more tracks from This Dirty Town

...that period. This album Last Will and Testament is a compilation of just about all their greatest hits and therefore I definitely recommend buying it! One downside of the album is that misses out probably the band's heaviest number in "Heroin, It's All Over" but you do get a taste of the original bonus tracks "New Guitar in Town" and the rock n roll punk track "Little Ole Wine Drinker Me" and like any other Best of Albums, it has all the anthems: ...
...cover of Bo Diddley's "Pills" that is only matched by the New York Dolls version of the track. The album has easily collected the best recordings and sounds pretty polished throughout. A must have! 1. I'm On Heat 2:32 2. Cyanide 2:05 3. Pills 2:26 4. Shadow (single Version) 2:40 5. Little Ol' Wine Drinker Me 2:38 6. Out In The Dark 3:35 7. Freak Show 2:21 8. Jenny 2:24 9. Self Destruct 1:47 10. Ain't Got A Clue 2:11 11. Take Me Back To ... Read review

Advantages: Quite different
Disadvantages: Overly camp and under entertaining

The Dickies were a punk band from LA, a few of the band members are dead now after drug overdoses and as I wasn't around when they came out - I can't say I'd heard of them until a few years ago. I got a copy of their Punk Singles Collection which as you may have guessed, is a compilation of their best tunes. Currently described as camp and humorous, I'd agree with one of the two - I've never found American's campness particularly humourous but still ...
...and Graham Norton in a punk rock way. The reality was somewhat more bland, a rather straight band really when it comes down to it and anyone who says they are better than their LA rivals The Germs, is clearly not all there. Whilst Banana Splits may have been a popular hit in the UK once, it looks incredibly soft today, perhaps the best things are the fast and enjoyable covers of tracks like "Paranoid". Two bearable songs are "You Drive Me Ape" and ... Read review