Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > Connoisseur Collection Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal

Advantages: A five octave voice, The precursor to power metal bands now
Disadvantages: May induce you to wearing fur, a horned helm and screaming Odin

...power metal. Manowar Anthology is actually a best of album and comprises tracks from some of Manowars earlier albums. The album cover leaves no illusion to what is at the heart of Manowars music. Predominantly Manowar sing about battle, the power of steel, vikings, warriors etc. Although some of there other tracks such as Kingdom come is more profund, and is aimed at people overcoming adversity and conquering their own personal kingdoms, be it career ...
...is Eric Adams the lead singer. This man has a five octave voice and fits perfectly to the fantasy genre that he sings about. This man can really hold a note, and scream in tune. He is extremely clear you can understand all the lyrics, and the power of his voice blows your mind. In a later album, called Warriors of the World United, Manowar do a cover version, {albeit slightly rocked up} of Nessun Dorma to show the vocal prowess of Adams. To describe ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliant metal songs and muscianship
Disadvantages: Some may find the singing a bit screaming in places

...may find this a little"Judas Priest" in places what with Anselmos high-pitch screaming in effect, but this is a must have album for any Pantera and metal fan. Song Highlights: Cowboys From Hell Pyscho Holiday Heresy Cemetery Gates Domination Message in Blood The Sleep The Art of Shredding ... Read review

Advantages: Musical Ability, Every Song
Disadvantages: Nothing

They have done it again! I have been a Slipknot fan now for going on 8 years, since I was given a copy of their self-titled album in 2000. From then on I have been hooked and own every album since and the majority of their DVDs. When they announced this album was going to be 'their heaviest yet' I didn't know what to expect, but this album is heavy! Songs like Gematria and Butcher's Hook are simply brutal. However Slipknot have again tried to stray ... Read review

Advantages: Awesome songs and vocal style
Disadvantages: None

This is, put quite simply, an amazing metal album. Released after their first label debut "Cowboys From Hell", "Vulgar" ups the ante in everyway. Gone are the Rob Halford screams and glam-rock tendencies of "CFH". Vocalist Phil Anselmo delivers a more brutal, aggressive vocal style which suits the harder music perfectly. The great thing is, the vocals are still very defined and clear which really adds to the experience of this album. The trio of ...
...Drums and Rex Brown on Bass combine to make an earth shattering and precise musical explosion, containing some of Pantera's Best work. The album has variety without being a mish-mash of styles, it is a focused record where every song has that distinct Pantera sound. They coined the phrase "Power Groove", well this album is the definition of that saying. The album explodes from the start with one of my favourites "Mouth For War", containg a great ... Read review

Advantages: Great Sounds, Power Groove Riffs and songs
Disadvantages: May be too heavy for some and some weak songs

"Far Beyond Driven" comes after their excellent 2nd release "Vulgar Display of Power" (not including the self-released titles) and what a monster it is! This is even more brutal and heavy but also contains the great Pantera "Power Groove" sound on several tracks, most notalbly the excellent "5 minutes Alone" and one my favourites "I'm Broken", which features a tasty bluesy guitar solo from Dimebag Darrell. Phil Anselmos vocals are even harder than ...
...The more I listen to this album the better it sounds, and the production is top-notch with crisp but beefy guitars, clear as day drums and rumbling bass but all so well defined. Pantera vowed to make each album heavier than their previous effort and they certainly acheived it here, but there are still of lots infectious catchy riffs and melody, "Shedding Skin" features one of my favourite riffs and stays in my head for days after and "25 years" begins ... Read review